Aklan guv eyes improved tourism facilities with ongoing Caticlan port expansion

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Heavy equipments start to develop the future site of the Aklan Marina tourism project in the Caticlan area facing the famous Boracay Island. The reclamation development, costing P260 million, will occupy some 2.64 hectares adjacent of the existing Caticlan jetty port / PHOTOS BY BOY RYAN ZABAL

BORACAY - To improve the facilities and services for Boracay-bound tourists, the provincial government begun its expansion of the Caticlan jetty port.

Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez said the Marina tourism project in Barangay Caticlan is 3.5 percent completed.

Phase 1 construction is expected to finish within one year, which will be funded by the provincial government through the P260 million bond flotation in a local government bank.

The world class facility, once built, includes floating breakwater, parking areas, wharf with berthing areas for boats, integrated transport terminal bay, water treatment plant and other tourist services and amenities.

Marquez said the province is targeting over a million tourists in 2012 in the island of Boracay.

He lauded the Marina project, saying, the improved infrastructure and amenities in Caticlan area would accommodate more tourists, create job opportunities and investments for the province of Aklan.

The governor also welcomed the increasing influx of inbound travelers, owing to the maiden Zest Air flights from Shanghai, China last week and other regular flights from regional destinations to Kalibo International Airport.

Speaking over RGMA DyRU Super Radyo Kalibo, Marquez said the upgrading of existing Caticlan jetty port through construction of transit lounge for tourists is also 55 percent completed.
The lounge will house the turnstile for the unified ticketing system for hazzle-free travel to Boracay Island, Marquez said in his regular Governor’s Report with Kaibahang Butz Maquinto on Saturday morning.
Earlier, the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) has given the go-signal to the provincial government to reclaim portions of Caticlan shoreline for the big ticket reclamation project.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also issued an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for the 2.64 hectares reclamation project despite oppositions from Boracay Foundation Inc. and the local government of Malay.

Meanwhile, tourist arrivals from January 1 to 27 this year hit a record high despite the bad weather across the country.
According to figures from the Aklan Tourism Office, the island of Boracay registered 57,000 tourists, of which 24,000 were foreigners. The arrivals translated to P1 billion tourism receipts for January alone, the governor said.