House Bill 4796: the hope of lot owners and LGU in Boracay against DENR

The immediate approval of House Bill No. 4796 of Aklan Representative Florencio ‘Joeben’ Miraflores, which grants land titling in Boracay is the hope of the local government of Malay and the claimants or lot owners in the island.

This is if the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will pursue the 30 meter width of roads in the island which the agency plans to include in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan/CLUP of Boracay.

According to SB Member Rowen Aguirre, if this shall happen, possibility is, lots near the roads will no longer be a property of a certain individual but will become a part of the streets.

However if the DENR’s plan will push through, Aguirre doubts if there will be any demolition, as the local government itself had granted the establishments a permit to build and operate. They can’t just let it be torn down.

This issue has previously been debated by the LGU Malay and the DENR, as the local government is fighting for the 12 meter road width in the island as this is what is stated in the town’s ordinance.

MRF Appealed to Complainants to Personally Go or Inform Their Office About Garbage Complaints

Even if collecting the garbage at the Village of Balabag is started at 2am, the material Recovery Facilities (MRF) is facing difficulty with the task due to the garbage volume.

This was revealed by Dana Maming, Supervisor of MRF Balabag in an interview Saturday afternoon.

This was after the comments of some drivers that early in the morning, the smell of garbage is emanating from the Main Road if garbage is uncollected not to mention the smell from the liquid dripping from garbage onto the street from garbage truck.

It was also learned from Maming that just at Balabag, it takes 18trucks to collect the garbage daily in the morning and this does not include the garbage collected at the beach line which originates from some other places.

Maming admitted that they lack manpower but that despite this, they manage to collect the garbage.

In relation to this, Maming appealed to the public whoever has complaints about the smell of garbage which has not been thrown properly or garbage which has not been properly left on the street to personally go to their office or inform them. She added that their office is ready to accept such complaints in order to immediately act on it.

Helmet Diving operations in Boracay, to be inspected by Dr. Salaver

There have been subsequent incidents of drowning due to different sea sports activities in Boracay.

This recorded cases raised concerns for the tourists, especially those occurrences where in, aside from drowning, they just suddenly experienced a heart attack in the middle of the activity.

Particularly in helmet diving and snorkeling which are often related to the reported incident of drowning and suffocation and where most of the victims are foreigners. 

In line with this Malay Municipal Health Officer Dr. Adrian Salaver said that he will have it checked as to what is in the operation of helmet diving that triggers such cases.

He stated that in his opinion helmet diving is dangerous as it uses a hose for the client’s breathing.

He also revealed that he was not invited when the Town Council of Malay had a committee hearing on the proposal of an ordinance regarding the regulation of helmet diving in order to take into consideration the health of those who wish to experience the said activity.

It Was Almost 2am Friday - Snatchers Victimized a 40 Year Old Female Italian

Snatchers victimized a 40 year old female Italian early Friday morning.

It was almost 2am when the victim was walking with her three companions at the beach front when they were allegedly followed by two unknown suspects.

Based on the investigation of the Boracay PNP, one of the two suspects snatched the victim’s bag and ran away. One of the victim’s companions gave chase but stumbled.

Another companion of the victim flagged down a passing motorcycle and gave chase to the suspected snatcher who turned towards Balabag Plaza and were then nowhere to be found.

It was learned that the suspected snatcher rode a getaway motorcycle together with the other suspect.

Taken from the victim was a pair of shoes, cell phone, iphone and P4,000.

The crime is still under investigation

New director for Aklan Police Provincial Office/PPO

Effective August 15, 2012 the service of Police Senior Superintendent Cornello Defensor as Provincial Director of Aklan Police Provincial Office has formally ended.

After one year and six months in the office he received a directive to end his service to the province as a director of Aklan Police.

According to APPO Deputy Director Supt. Pablito Asmod, it is but normal for police officials to be relieved and transferred to a new assignment in order to give an opportunity to other members to be head of a certain police office.

He said that Defensor had already achieved the maximum length of time being seated as PD of Aklan, and it’s just right for him to have a new assignment.

In line with this, while they are waiting for the turn over ceremony which will be held on August 22 for Defensor’s replacement to formally take over, Asmod will be OIC Provincial Director of APPO for the meantime.

He also revealed that what will occur is actually a ‘Swap’.

This is because S/Supt. Pedrito Escarilla of Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division of Camp Delgado, Iloilo City will be replacing the relieved Aklan Police PD, while Defensor will take over the position that Escarilla has vacated.