BIATF endorses Boracay Island Development Authority

The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force (BIATF) endorsed the creation of a Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA) and even submitted a draft bill to Congress.

BIDA will promote growth for sustainable development, to maintain ecological balance, to protect and enhance the quality of the environment in the Island.

The BIATF was created on May 8, 2018 under Executive Order (EO) No. 53 with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu as chairperson and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as co-chairs.

Under Executive Order No. 115, the Philippine President extended the function of BIATF until May 2021 to allow the completion of the critical projects adopted from the Boracay Action Plan (BAP) based on its four thematic areas: enforcement of laws and regulations, pollution control and prevention, rehabilitation and recovery of the ecosystem, and sustainability of island activities.

“We will continue the unfinished project with plans already been set for the island. The construction of drainage along the circumferential road shall be continued, the beach and road easement as well as illegal buildings built in forestlands will be addressed by the BIATF this year and to continue with the rehabilitation of the world class destination,” Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said when he visited Boracay Island on June 11, 2020.

BIDA will operate, administer short and long-term plans, and manage the rehabilitation and development of Boracay Island as well as regulate the issuance of permits, order of closure or suspension, cessation of operations and any concern that are detrimental to Boracay Island.

It will also help ensure that the island will continue to exist with a functioning ecosystem under a workable plan for sustainable development.

Boracay Island reopened to local tourists from Western Visayas on June 16,2020. The DENR continue to closely monitor its water quality as it reached an impressive safe level suitable for swimming and other recreational activities.

The world class tourist destination was shut down for six months in 2018 on orders of President Duterte after he tagged the island as a “cesspool”.

The island was closed to tourism once more due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am glad for the reopening of Boracay Island, the crown jewel of the Philippines tourism industry. The pristine powdery white sand beach will continue as we hope to implement sustainable development through the creation of BIDA. I encourage all tourists to observe physical distancing and preventive measures such as frequent handwashing and wearing of face masks. Let us keep the island clean and COVID-free,” DENR-6 Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla Jr. said. (DENR-6)