Expansion of Caticlan port continues after High Court TEPO lifting

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Aklan provincial government is optimistic of its plans to continue the rehabilitation and expansion the existing Caticlan jetty port in Malay, Aklan this year following the recent Supreme Court order.

The High Court has issued a resolution lifting the temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) under G.R. No. 196870 filed by the Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI)  against the province of Aklan, the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau Region VI.

“Acting on the motion to lift the temporary environmental protection order filed by the Province of Aklan, and there being no opposition from the other parties with respect to the 2.64 hectares along the coastline of Caticlan, Malay, Aklan, the Court Resolved to grant the said motion effective immediately,” the High Court said.

The court’s en banc two-page notice was issued on June 3, 2014 but was received by the lawyers of BFI only last week. 

With the lifting of TEPO, the expansion of port facilities is expected to accommodate the increasing number of passengers going to Boracay Island. The reclaimed land will be developed also for commercial and tourism-related facilities. 

The provincial government also cited the congestion in the port holding area caused by inadequate facilities that resulted to long queues of tourists while waiting for the boat going to the island. 

The expansion project at the north side of Caticlan port and terminal includes the reclamation, terminal annex building, two-storey building, health and wellness center, access roads, parking and lighting and water treatment sewerage system and rehabilitation of existing jetty port and terminal. 

The development project along the Caticlan side beside the existing port will be funded by “Caticlan Super Marina Bonds” costing P260-milion. 

Citing the impact of the reclamation project to the environment, the Supreme Court acted on the petition filed by BFI and ordered the province of Aklan to cease and desist from conducting reclamation activities on the proposed Aklan Beach Zone Restoration and Protection Marina Development Project last June 2011.

This coming July 19, Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores will meet the BFI officers and members at the Boracay Regency Resort to talk about projects and programs for Boracay Island.