Aklan SP declares four Bicol lawmakers persona non grata

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan declared four Bicol Congress members as persona non grata for allegedly intervening in the province’s affairs by filing a bill that will place Boracay under the control and supervision of the national government.

Declared as persona non grata were Reps. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte (2nd District of Camarines Sur), Tsuyoshi Anthony G. Horibata (1st District of Camarines Sur), Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte (5th District of Camarines Sur), and Nicolas C. Enciso VIII (Bicol Saro Party-list).

The declaration was formalized through a resolution filed by Aklan Vice Governor Reynaldo Quimpo in their session on Monday, August 08, 2022.

According to Aklan SP, House Bill No. 1085 (Proposing the Creation of a Boracay Island Development Authority as a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation or BIDA GOCC) filed by the four solons was allegedly similar to HB 09286 that was junked in the previous 18th Congress.

Aklan SP member Jupiter Aelred Gallenero described the bill as “grossly disadvantageous” to the people of Aklan and the local government of Malay as BIDA will control and manage the island.

Gallenero added that the special development zone proposal for Boracay violates the fiscal autonomy of local government units and is contrary to the Local Government Code of 1991.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan stand firm on and re-affirm their collective sentiment and commitment against any and all attempts to establish a government-owned and controlled corporation to be known as Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA),” according to the statement posted on Aklan SP’s Facebook page.

SP-Aklan believed that the creation of BIDA was “catastrophic” and would have a negative effect on the socio-economic well-being of Aklanons.

Meanwhile, the four congressmen already withdrew HB 1085 on August 3, 2022 but the official communique was received by the House committee on August 8.

Under the bill, the proposed government-owned and controlled corporation to be known as BIDA shall manage, develop, operate, preserve, and rehabilitate the Boracay Island Development Zone, which shall include the entirety of Boracay Island.