Biz groups want Boracay Island body to sort out titling woes

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

Two main business groups in Boracay Island in Aklan support the creation of the Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA) but subject to some proposals that they see will benefit business on the renowned tourist destination.

In separate letters dated Oct 30, 2020, the Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Boracay said BIDA will ensure balanced management of the island-resort.

“Placing Boracay Island under a management that will genuinely promote and accelerate sustainable growth and development consistent with maintaining a sound ecological balance is truly something to look forward to. We, the Board of Trustees, together with our members and stakeholders, strongly believe that only through proper governance and oversight can we prevent the mismanagement of the island, something that led to its closure in 2018,” the BFI said.

PCCI-Boracay said it signed a joint resolution of the Visayas Chambers during its 28th Visayas Area Business Conference in Oriental Hotel, Palo Leyte on August 23, 2019 “certifying the BIDA Bill 1756 (Senate version) as urgent to ensure that the rehabilitation is sustained, and to ensure that growth and success are balanced with environmental protections and good governance.”

“PCCI-Boracay supports the passage of a bill that ensures sustainable economic and ecological future through tourism for Boracay Island. Boracay Business and stakeholders have had extraordinary hardships to our businesses that may take a generation to recover from. We would like BIDA to strongly support the business sector, and we would like the business sector to support this government’s initiative.”

BFI raised some concerns which could be included in BIDA’s functions:

-facilitate the titling of lands on the island;

-reduction of the road easement, particularly the proposed width of the main road from 30 meters to a more reasonable 12 meters;

-allow existing structures on forestland to apply for Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism or FlagT; and

-balanced composition of the BIDA Board of Directors to include representatives from the National Government, Local Government, the Business Sectors and Private Sectors.

PCCI-Boracay also pushed for a multi-sectoral board.

“We suggest a board composition that includes balanced representation between the national government and the local government, with a continued clear contributing role for the latter. We suggest a board composition that includes representatives from the business and investment sectors, and representatives from local community organizations and/or non-governmental organizations. We recommend a General Manager or Administrator that is a professional in the management and tourism sector; appointed and not political,” the group added.

PCCI-Boracay also sought help for the private sector, particularly the issue of land titling.

“We hope that BIDA can aim to support and help the private sector as the key driver of Boracay’s future growth and success. Important objectives such as the urgent need for lawful land title should be prioritized: Boracay stakeholders need expedited land titles and solutions. Boracay Island Development Authority can help Boracay stakeholders in this regard, and guide Boracay’s sustainable development in the future.”

In 2006, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1064, which classified Boracay into two areas – forestland and agricultural land.

Under the proclamation, some 40 percent of the 1,028-hectare island was deemed as forestland while 60 percent was classified as agricultural land.

Decades of development on the island, however, saw structures replacing crops in agricultural areas.

A 2008 Supreme Court decision, however, said the island is public property, thus preventing Boracay residents from securing a perfect title of the property because the law requires them to show proof of possession dating back to at least June 12, 1945.

The first application for a title was only filed in 1993.

In 2018, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte said he wants a committee to be formed to resolve land ownership and titling issues in Boracay Island.