CECAM Team encourages young people to sue in environmental oversight

Posted February 27, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

With the main goal of establishing more integrated approaches to achieving the CECAM project prospective.

Professor Kazuo Nadaoka, Chief Technical Adviser of the Coastal Ecosystem Conservation and Adaptive Management (CECAM) Project in Boracay during the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) meeting said: “the young people have a great contribution in order to preserve Boracay.”

He said that PCCI and LGU’s project should be implemented together with the young people because they were the one who will give a new hope to the island.

He explains that the idea of the young people is very important to know and hear because it is one of the major key to give solutions in every problem that the Boracay is now facing.

Meanwhile, Professor Miguel Fortes, Project Manager of CECAM also agree in this statement.

Fortes added that people in Boracay should not be blind as well and be proactive to look at the reality.

On the other hand, various sectors of society attended such meeting as well, which was also attended by Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores which aims to discuss the different problems in Boracay and undertake appropriate action.

New Kalibo International Airport manager to focus on security

Posted February 27, 2015

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

The security of Kalibo International Airport is the main priority of the new Kalibo-Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines manager Martin Terre.

He said that the security breaches and other problems with the airport are on his focus together with the possible solution from the CAAP department heads.

Terre said he will also inspect the terminal building to look for areas that need improvement.

Terre who formally started his duty last Friday replaced the former manager Cynthia Aspera of Kalibo International Airport who was relieved from her post due to security breaches.

Also noted that the security breach occurred on January 22 in which a woman has managed to fly in South Korea without any travel documents.

Terre assured that they will do their best to improve the operations in Kalibo International Airport he said.

On the other hand Terre is came from Roxas Airport in Roxas City which also handle now of Aspera as a new manager.

Yellow Submarine wants to operate in Boracay

Posted February 26, 2015

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

Mr. Sangwon Hyun's endorsement letter in Malay Sangguniang Bayan (SB) to operate the Yellow Submarine in the island of Boracay is already subject for a Committee Hearing.

During the 8^th SB Regular Session, Committee Chairman on Tourism Jupiter Gallenero discussed the said issue wherein he says that the hearing for this matter is already conducted.

Gallenero said: “Mr. Hyun previously submitted those needed documents and requirements if it this will be approved.”

On the other hand, he explained that this will not operate in the whole island of Boracay; rather there were only just some areas where to put the submarine.

In this regard, Lifeguard Commander Mike Labatiao and Coastal Environmental officers were also scheduled to conduct a review in order to approve the Submarine’s operation.

Meanwhile, Gallenero said that he will wait the report from Labatiao about it before they are going to discuss this again in the 2^nd reading of the next SB Regular Session.

Establishment owners’ complaint on crowded commissioners and bancas in Boracay

Posted February 25, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

“Too crowded”

This was the public complaint by some of the establishments in Station 3 Manoc-Manoc Boracay associated with the alleged crowded commissioners and bancas in the area.

According to a locale “concerned citizen”, the place looks like a “divisoria” (a market district in the City of Manila known for its wide assortment of low-priced goods and wholesale and bargain shopping which sidestreets containing the various shops, stalls and markets branch).

Thus, because of the massive number of commissioners and boats, it was being said that some establishment in the area are struggling in their business operations.

Indeed, according to a report, some of their foreign guests are also complaining since they cannot swim for fear of accident seeing as that a number of boats were docking in the area.

Meanwhile, this station also tried to interview the Chairman of the Committee on Tourism Industry, Trade, Economic Enterprise & Cooperatives SB Member Jupiter Aelred Gallenero but he does not answer the call.

In this regard, entrepreneurs are also hoping for the actions to these problems.

CBTMPC strictly prohibits cooking in motor bancas

Posted February 24, 2015

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) is strictly prohibiting their boats operating on the island to cook at the back of their motor bancas.

Aside from being not good to see by the passengers, it is also considered very dangerous for their operation.

According to CBTMPC Chairman Godofredo Sadiasa, cooking in boats is not allowed and in fact he already issued a memorandum prohibiting the same.

In this regard Jetty Port Administrator Niven Maquirang himself also noticed the problem that he brought this concern to Sadiasa.

Meanwhile, some changes are expected from the boats operating in Boracay in which some of them will be redesigned for more comfortable and larger ones.

SP Aklan discussing development in Manoc-Manoc port

Posted February 23, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) officials are taking the next step toward developing Manoc-Manoc Port in the island of Boracay.

In this regard, during the 6^th SP Regular Session, the council was scheduled to summon PPD Coordinator Roger Esto and Jetty Port Administrator Niven Maquirang for an interaction.

Yet, before being able to schedule such meetings, SP said that resource speakers must first complete the documents submitted relative to the urgent request of Governor Miraflores for full authority to file an application for and enter into a Foreshore Lease Agreement or Special Forest Landuse Agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in behalf of the province of Aklan for the development of the said port.

Meanwhile, tricycle and tourist van in the dock area is said also to be organized which includes the placement of a building for passengers.

MV Seabourn Sojourn to visit Boracay Island for the first time

Posted February 24, 2015

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

Seabourn Sojourn will visit the island of Boracay this coming March 6.

This is owned by Seabourn Cruise Line Limited from Bahamas.

It has 10 decks and a 450 passenger capacity including 335 crews.

The said cruise ship will be docking first in Manila before its tour in Boracay Island at around 10 am up to 6pm.

According to the company that holds the cruise ship’s Philippine tour, most of its passengers are from high bracket families and celebrities from different countries.

On the other hand, Caticlan Jetty Port Special Operation III Jean Pontero said that their preparation made during the previous ships’ visit in Boracay is the same, in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Malay LGU and concerned agencies.

Meanwhile, there will be an exchange of plaque between Seabourn Cruise Line Limited and the Provincial Government of Aklan, Department of Tourism (DOT) and LGU Malay during the cruise ship’s visit.

BTAC-WCPD forms firm actions vs violence against women and children

Posted February 23, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

Violations of RA 9262 ranked first among the offenses that were committed against children and women during the first semester of the year figures from the Boracay PNP Station- Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) showed.

“RA 9262 otherwise known as Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act of 2004 comprises a high percentage of the total recorded crime.”  SPO2 Lyn Ibañez of Women and Children Protection Desk said.

Thus, she said: “The grim statistics on violence against women and children in Boracay has moved together with the “counseling program” along with the Social Welfare and Development Office (SWD) into organizing a plan advocates against this distressing social menace.”

She stresses that this will carry out the primary mission of helping restrain through all-out advocacy and eradicate by all legal means any act that violates the rights of women and children in the island.

Under this move, she said, the PNP-WCPD, in coordination with local government units (LGU’s) would be able to widely put into operation its education and training program for police officers and barangay officials to enable them to properly handle VAW cases.

Meanwhile, any of these acts is punishable with imprisonment and cash fine depending, on the gravity of the offense.