Adopt ‘green buildings’, DENR urged Boracay stakeholders

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Environment officials are convincing Boracay stakeholders to adopt ‘green buildings’ concept to achieve significant reduction in carbon emissions in the island.

PHOTO AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL 

Undersecretary for Attached Agencies Sherwin Rigor said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will promote the green concept and green building activities to protect and enhance the natural environment of Boracay Island.

Rigor also presented the government plans for the soft opening of Boracay Island before the House committee on natural resources hearing on September 28.

Last April 26, President Rodrigo Duterte temporarily closed the island due to rapid growth threatening the quality of Boracay’s eco-system. The Boracay rehabilitation is ongoing and set to partially open on October 26 to local and foreign tourists.

“Ang purpose nito is to reduce carbon footprints of the existing buildings in Boracay Island. Malakas ang carbon footprints dahil conventional or brick and mortar ang present structures dito. The weight of the structures is affecting the environmental geo-hazard ng ating island,” he added.

Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from sting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In a study, the high costs of initial design construction materials and government regulations are listed as main challenges in developing green building concepts in Asia.  

Meanwhile, Rigor said DENR will implement the carrying capacity policy in the island and its swimming areas which can support 55,757 people per day, of which 19,215 are tourists and 36,542 are workers and residents of Boracay. Only 6,405 tourists are also allowed to enter the island daily, the DENR report showed.