Tourism chief denies 'hurting' statements vs Boracay, drew protests from Aklan local officials

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Boracay Island faces another unlikely 'critic' this time from Secretary Alberto Lim of the Department of Tourism.

Lim drew mounting protests from Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez and Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores - for his statements last week that the country's premier beach resort island in Aklan has become extremely overcrowded, environmental and zoning regulations not being enforced by local officials and worse, he urged tourists to look elsewhere other than Boracay.

In a collective move to protest the new tourism chief statements, the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan also passed Resolution No. 2010-007 in a special session on Tuesday morning urging tourism secretary Lim to rectify his statements against Boracay Island.

The legislative council said Lim did not assessed the possible impact and implication of his statement to the press which will adversely affect the tourism industry in the country, especially the island of Boracay and the province of Aklan.

Lim, in an Agence France-Presse interview, mentioned that Boracay Island was a different place a generation ago and that the sprawl that followed the tourist dollars caused the seawater off the four-kilometer white sand beach front to sprout algae which was feed by seepage from sewage of hotels and restaurants.

"Had Secretary Lim consulted the stakeholders in the island and the residents, he should have known that algae growth in the seawaters of the beachfront is a natural phenomenon. Instead, he (Lim) should channel and rally the resources of tourism department and all stakeholders in the tourism industry to protect and conserve Boracay, like all other destinations of the country, as the resort island had been continuously raking in dollar receipts for the country, " the legislators said.

Lim was quoted that "thirty years ago they tried to set the rules but they were not successful and the local government did not cooperate...so people started overbuilding. The government may in the end be unable to halt over development."

FARTHEST FROM THE TRUTH

Tourism Chief Lim denied the report that has caused concerns with some sectors in Boracay. In quoted reports in national dailies and websites, Lim said he is not supportive of Boracay's role in the tourism program and that it will not be a priority destination under his watch.

In a meeting by Aklan Tourism Provincial Council co-chairman Vicky Ramos-Antonino in Manila last Tuesday, Lim said he was misquoted or his statements were taken out of context and that the interview was not really about Boracay Island, but, in tourism in general being the new tourism secretary.

The tourism department, Lim stressed, will seek the involvement of all sectors in Boracay to engage in a dialogue and concerted action for the appropriate development befitting the treasured asset of the country.

"Boracay remains among the jewels of Philippine tourism, and it will remain in the order of priorities under this administration. Our only concern at this point is that tourism development in our country adhere to the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainable development," he said in his letter to Aklan Governor Marquez on Tuesday.

Last year, the Manila Water Company and the Philippine Tourism Authority developed and managed the water and sewerage systems in the island to provide 100% water supply and sewerage coverage for Boracay.

Over 400,000 domestic and foreign tourists visited this island in the first six months, earning P8.2-billion in tourism receipts.