We're not anti-development, BFI says

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY - They are not anti-development and they are against any moves compromising the fragile environment of Boracay Island.

This was the statement of Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) president Loubelle Cann over DyRU Super Radyo Kalibo on the growing popular opposition on the proposed reclamation project of the provincial government in Barangay Caticlan.

"The provincial government did not presented a study regarding the implications of the project in the environment. The proposed project in Caticlan is so near the Boracay island, and even there is a proposal to reclaim portions of the island, that is why the BFI made the opposition, so that we could evaluate the project," she said.

The provincial government and the BFI supported by the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay are locked in a war of resolutions over the reclamation project. BFI maintains it oppose the project to protect the environment of Boracay Island and Barangay Caticlan from possible adverse impacts of the project.

Cann also stressed the group of businessmen in Boracay is not anti-development and they support developments without compromising the environment. BFI, she said, is willing to sit down and talk with the provincial officials to resolve package of issues of the controversial multi-million reclamation project, funded by bond flotation.

BFI president claimed the province wanted to proceed the project, even without proper consultation with the stakeholders in the island and the nearby community of Barangay Caticlan.

"The oppositions of Malaynons are overwhelming on this particular project. Any reclamation project has negative impact in the environment. In Boracay, tourists and visitors are staying in our island because we are promoting the environment and beaches. If there are negative impacts of the proposed project, even, during the start of the construction works, these could adversely affect the beaches and the corals along the coastline," she said.

Cann said to save the coastline, the province should introduce soft engineering such as beach nourishment rather than 'hard engineering' that entails construction of structures and causing erosion in the areas.

"The provincial government plans to reclaim portions of coastline of Barangay Caticlan up to Barangay Sambiray, about 40 hectares, which is Phase 1 to Phase 5, although, there is a go signal to commence the project works for Phase 1 which is 2.6 hectares and more or less 3 hectares in Barangay Manoc-Manoc in the island of Boracay," said Cann.

She also cited the extensive land reclamation works of Singapore near the maritime border of Malaysia, which affected the environment and the livelihood of Malaysian fishermen. Singapore reclaimed eastward of Pulau Tekong has extended its land territory to the sea boundary jeopardizing the bilateral ties of Malaysia and Singapore in early 1990s.

Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan will invite the stakeholders, business groups in the island of Boracay and the local government unit of Malay in the committee hearings of their resolutions opposing the reclamation project this week.