boracay to hold environment

VOLUME 5,
ISSUE No. 9
JULY 21-31, 2015
BORACAY TO HOLD ENVIRONMENT
SUMMIT THIS YEAR
A
klan Governor Florencio
Miraflores confirmed that
an environment summit
will happen in Boracay
before the year ends.
Miraflores, in an interview
during the sidelines of the first Aklan
Investment Forum in Kalibo on July
17, said environmental experts,
civil society groups and various
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Che Indelible
is still finalizing the details for the
event.
“The summit is timely because
of the environmental issues being
faced by the island. It will focus on
stakeholders are expected to join how to preserve the environment of
the event which will tackle issues Boracay,” he added.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary
concerning the island’s environment.
Demetrio
Ignacio of the Department
He said that the summit is already
approved by the Provincial Tourism of Environment and Natural
Resources said they will fully support
Council.
“We have no definite date yet, the activity.
“The agency is willing to support
but it will happen within the year,”
this activity for the protection of
Miraflores said.
Miraflores said that the Council Boracay,” he said.* Informer
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BORACAY INFORMER | 1
FEATURE
DOST launches eco-friendly solution to
Boracay’s wastewater, garbage problem
By Karen Bermejo
An amoy-buster spraying
the Vigormin solution
using a backpack-mounted
sprayer to a pile of garbage
at the Material Recovery
Facility in Balabag.
F
irst used in Boracay during
the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation conference
here last May, Vigormin or
Organo-Mineral (OM) is now being
used to address the garbage and
wastewater problem here.
The white organic powder was
developed through a research
by Dr. Merlinda Palencia of
Adamson University funded by
the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) through the
Philippine Council for Industry,
Energy and Emerging Technology
Research and Development
(PCIEERD).
In an interview during the
launch of the Eco-Sep (eco-friendly
2 | BORACAY INFORMER
septic) System technology early
July, Dr. Rowena Guevara, DOST
Undersecretary for Scientific and
Technological Services said it is
a low-cost solution to Boracay’s
problem on wastewater, drainage
systems, and residual solid waste
that fill the air with noxious odor.
The Vigormin only costs P120
per kilogram, cheaper compared
to other chemical alternatives
which usually costs P1,000.
During the pilot test conducted
here on May, a total of 12 tons of
Vigormin was donated by DOST for
Boracay.
The project was implemented
through the cooperation of the
DOST Regional Office 6, the Aklan
Dr. Merlinda Palencia (right) explaining how Vigormin or
Organo-Mineral powder works.
Provincial Science and Technology
Center and the Local Government
Unit of Malay.
Vigormin were used for the
treatment of septic and drainage
water in several hotels which
hosted APEC delegates, in Cagban
and Caticlan jetty ports, in the
water reservoir of the Tourism
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone
Authority and in some households.
It was also used in material
recovery facilities (MRFs) in
Barangays Balabag, Manoc-Manoc
and Yapak.
After the application of the
Vigormin, Guevara said it was able
to effectively reduce unpleasant
odor from decaying organic
waste in the MRFs as well as in
concrete septic tanks of various
establishments where it was
applied.
According to Palencia, the
vigormin has not only been very
helpful during APEC, but was
used even after the international
conference here.
Until now, it is still used to treat
A backpack-mounted sprayer used in applying organo-mineral
Dr. Merlinda Palencia
truckloads of waste delivered
in the garbage dumps in the
island daily, and even in jetty
ports.
Palencia said the LGU has
already purchased Vigormin
supply for its continued use.
Eco-sep solution
The organo-mineral was
initially developed for disaster
stricken areas in the country
and was first used in temporary
shelters in Palo, Leyte to
address sanitation problem.
During
the
pilot
implementation, three
dedicated septic tanks referred
as Eco-Sep tank were installed
in the temporary shelters for
Yolanda survivors with 522
residents.
The tanks were maintained
with periodic application of the
Vigormin.
DOST opted to use the
technology in Boracay as one
of the country’s top tourism
destination.*
Dr. Rowena
Guevara, DOST
Undersecretary
for Scientific and
Technological
Services
Vigormin organo-mineral mixed with water
BORACAY INFORMER | 3
Aklan police intelligence
head to lead BTAC
S
enior Superintendent Danilo de los
Santos was appointed as the new
police chief of Boracay Tourist
Assistance Center.
He is a former head of the Aklan
Provincial Intelligence Unit.
Delos Santos replaced Senior
Inspector Frensy Andrade who led
the Boracay police since February 6
this year.
He accepted his new assignment in
a ceremony on July 28 led by Senior
Superintendent Iver Apellido, acting
director of Aklan Provincial Police
Office.
Tourist safety and the peace and
order in the three villages of Boracay
would be his priority, the new BTAC
chief said.
Delos Santos also vowed to curb the
criminalities here.
Before his assignment in Aklan,
Delos Santos who hails from Iloilo City
served as chief of San Rafael police
station in Iloilo last year and Molo
police station in Iloilo City in 2009.
He was also assigned in the towns of
Estancia and San Dionisio in Iloilo.*
Aklan dengue cases
decreased by 64%
D
engue cases in Aklan from
January to July this year
decreased by or 64.11 percent
compared to the same period of last
year.
Data from Aklan Provincial
Epidemiology Surveillance & Response
Unit (APESRU) showed that it decreased
to 215 from 599 cases.
Dengue cases in Aklan 215 from
January to July this year, showed a
64.11% decreased as compared to last
year of the same period, which had 599
cases.
Kalibo had the highest number of
dengue cases in the province with 57,
followed by Numancia with 31 and New
Washington with 19.
The municipality
of Malay came in
fourth with 18 cases;
B an g a wi th 16;
Madalag with 11; and
Nabas with 10.
The other towns
with dengue cases
include Tangalan with
8; Balete, Makato,
and Malinao with 7
each; Ibajay with 6;
Lezo with 5; Altavas
with 4; Libacao with
3; and Batan and
Buruanga with 2 each.
As reported,
males were more of
the victims with 53%
recorded cases while
women with 47%
cases.
Meanwhile,
majority of the cases
belong to the age
group 1-10 years old with 69 cases,
followed by 11-20 years old age bracket
with 68; 21-30 age bracket with 37; 3140 years old with 24; 51 years old and
above with 8; less than one year old
with 5; and 41-50
years old with 4.
Dr. Cornelio
C u a c h o n J r. ,
Provincial Health
Officer I, strongly
advised the
public to search
and destroy
breeding sites
of mosquito like
water containers,
flower vases, old rubber tires, empty
cans and surroundings to prevent the
spread of dengue in the barangays.
(PIA-Aklan)
BORACAY INFORMER | 7
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BI
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Karen Bermejo
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Columnists & Contributors:
Megs Lunn
Atty. Ronquillo Tolentino
Odon Bandiola
Narciso Dionson
Maria Solita Zaldivar-Guzman
Michel van der Kleij
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Manggayad Main Road,
Manoc-manoc, Boracay Island,
Malay, Aklan
Tel. No.
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WITH US
OPINION
VOTE RIGHT!
ITAMA ANG PAGBOTO!
Echoes From
JOHNNY DAYANG
S
ome politicos now
shamelessly campaign
well ahead of the
2016 elections. Their
campaigning betrays what they
are but it cannot be called illegal
because the Election Code does
not define it as such. The Code’s
framers made sure they have
ample elbow room to circumvent
the law’s noble intention.
This immoral practice only
further corrupts our electoral
system. Truth to tell, we have a
corrupted culture. We are quick
to condemn government people
as corrupt without realizing we
ourselves are corrupt. When we
break the law, we often try to
bribe our way out. The worst form
of election-related corruption is
vote buying and selling.
 It is with this perspective that
the Publishers Association of the
Philippines Inc. (PAPI) has adopted
the theme “Vote Right! Itama
ang Pagboto!” for its Midyear
Convention next month at the
Asian Institute of Management
(AIM) in Makati City.
PAPI president Louie Arriola
said their simple but emphatic
theme “aims to highlight the ills
in the Filipino voting behavior,
and the topics drawn up for
their convention are designed to
explore options on how best to
correct such ills.”
***
Filipinos are now generally
aware about climate change
but continue to abuse the
environment, despite the ferocity
of the typhoon they generate.
Typhoon Egay had just devastated
various regions, but its most
horrendous legacy is the sinking
of MB Kim Nirvana in Ormoc
which claimed over 70 lives.
Obviously, the Nirvana sinking
was not Egay’s handiwork alone.
The tragedy was due to the
lethal combination of corruption
and incompetence involving the
boat captain and certain Coast
Guard personnel who knowingly
overloaded the Nirvana.
Albay further intensifies its
climate change drive in response
to Pope Francis’ encyclical,
“Laudato Si” (Praise Be to You),
which criticizes consumerism
and irresponsible development,
and exhorts people against
environmental degradation and
anthropogenic climate change.
To further enhance public
awareness on the urgency of
climate change adaptation
(CCA) and disaster risk reduction
(DRR), Albay Gov. Joey Salceda
recommended in a memorandum
to offices, schools, the police and
the military in the provinces, the
praying of the Oratio Imperata
before raising the flag, followed
by the “Albay Forever Hymn,” the
National Anthem and Pledge of
Loyalty, the “Albayano Ako” oath,
and the reading of the “Climate
Change Adaptation Pledge of
Commitment” and the “Ten
Commandments for Sustainable
Development.”
***
BORACAY INFORMER | 9
Bad animal treatment
shoo tourists away
COLUMN
BORACAY FURRY TAILS
Michel van der Kleij
J
ust last week I received an email;
a desperate cry for help. And it
wasn’t the first time either. One of
our valued guests witnessed how
Boracay dog catchers manhandled a
dog into a pickup truck along the beach.
They saw four more dogs were inside
the truck. The poor animals screamed
for all they were worth. Their cry for
help were so gruesome that mothers
nearby covered their children’s eyes.
Our tourist was so upset that he felt
obliged to approach the dog catchers
and demanded an explanation.
However, the dog catchers started
to tell inexcusable lies. They know the
truth is too horrible to be told. They
lied to the tourist and said the animals
will just be taken to a local shelter to
be reunited with their owners. But we
know there is no such shelter. They are
referring to the dreaded “dog pound”
of the island.
In theory, the owners can pick up
their beloved pooch. But the question
is on how they are going to find out it
within three days or can they afford to
pay the heavy penalty?
A very similar email reached me the
next day. Another guest was staying
near this dog pound by chance and
noticed that neither food nor water
was given to the poor victims. She
contacted, at the Aklan Animal Rescue
and Rehabilitation Center (AARRC) in
a bid to ease their fate, perhaps even
liberate them. She fed and watered
them daily, until one day they were no
longer there.
During that time, no one else
provided care for these poor souls.
No employee of that pound, no dog
catcher, no official bothered to care
for these poor animals.
But how this maltreatment of dogs
may be a big loss for Boracay in the long
run?
no time 9,000 signatures were collected
and soon these will be presented to the
Mayor of Malay. Needless to say that
none of these 9,000 people will now be
It destroys our reputation.
visiting Boracay. If even 10 percent of
that number had intended to come visit
Apparently the authorities are one day, spending on average of two
not aware how quickly a reputation weeks and 80 bucks a day, that would
is damaged and how long it takes for represent a whopping US$1,008,000
it to be rebuilt. At this very moment, loss. Yes folks, over 1 million US dollars
around the world, our valued guest is up in smoke because the authorities
sounding the alarm! They are telling fail to take their proper responsibilities.
their relatives and friends not to visit
our island.
Here’s a link to the said petition:
The world is changing out there.
Animals are increasingly considered
https://www.change.org/p/johnnyto be companions rather than a yap-mayor-of-boracay-philippinesnuisance and our guests are bringing stop-the-cruel-treatment-of-boracaythese new values to our island. Will we s-homeless-animals.
keep scaring them away by blatantly
demonstrating that we are stuck in the
Middle Ages?
Responsible pet ownership
Someone in the US started an online
petition to make people aware of this
Being an IT professional, I’m trained
very poorly managed situation. Within to look at problems by thinking of a
COLUMN
solution - a real solution and not a
temporary workaround.
The number of dogs that are not
owned is very small compared to the
total number of loose dogs in the
island. But still, the problem of stray
dogs must not be neglected. One
solution I can suggest is responsible pet
ownership. Owners must be educated
in responsible pet ownership as it
greatly contributes to guests’ positive
experience. Responsible pet ownership
includes Spay/Neuter which must be
PROMOTED by authorities, not left
to the good heart of outsiders. Thus,
there should be a municipal POLICY to
provide spay/neuter services. In the
long run, this practice may help reduces
chances of rabies and other disease.
Since Boracay entrepreneurs benefit
from clean environment and happy
tourists, a sponsorship program to raise
money for spay/neuter and vaccination
could also be started. Animal friendly
policies are much more effective than
culling (which doesn’t solve the real
problem at all) and there’s proof from
around the world.
If the authorities would take
this advice, we wouldn’t lose our
reputation and even more friendly
tourists will flock to our shores. It
would also provide learning and work
opportunities for local agricultural and
veterinary students. So, I call on the
authorities in the island, if you don’t do
it for the animals themselves, at least
do it for economic reasons.
You know it makes sense! For what
it’s worth, Aklan Animal Rescue &
Rehabilitation Center is prepared to
work with authorities on all levels on
these solutions. You have our email
address.*
Would you like me to write about a
particular subject or give feedback, please
contact me at aklananimalrescue@gmail.
com
The Aklan Animal Rescue and
Rehabilitation page on Facebook
can be found here: https://www.
facebook.com/pages/Aklan -Animal Rescue - Rehabilitation - CenterPhilippines/307429692618106
BORACAY INFORMER | 11
Wet
in
and
wild
FEATURE
Madalag
By Megs Lunn
J
ust recently, a group
of Aklan Adventurers
had great fun trekking
to Liktinon White Rocks
in Barangay Ma. Cristina,
Madalag.
“Liktin” is to ‘literally jump’
(Ga tiksiw) over boulders
of stone. If one is not an
adventurer, you can tip toe
slowly to avoid getting injured
as the stones can be slippery
and sharp. Not to discourage
you but to entice you to come
and experience it boldly.
It’s worth a one day trip
or an overnight camping with
fellow adventurers.
The place is considered hard
adventure tourism filled with
great frun and nature tripping.
It takes at least an hour and
a half to reach the place from
Brgy. Galicia. What makes it
more exciting is the one river
(Aklan River) with at least
about seven river tributaries
to cross along the way with
amazingly cool water you can’t
resist. So don’t forget to bring
12 | BORACAY INFORMER
FEATURE
your sunscreen when you to the
place.
Up there waiting is a promise
of real great adventure. Though
pictures speak a thousand
words, this time it only gives 80
percent justice.
To complete the story, you
have to see it for yourself.
For more information on trekking
and guide, please contact
+63 9285540086.
Please visit
#LiktinonWhiteRocks
#MadalagAGreatAdventure.*
BORACAY INFORMER | 13
Boracay Kitchen
Mainroad Station 1, Boracay Island
Malay, Aklan
Tel No. (036) 288-2410
iBoracay
I Boracay
D’mall de Boracay, Boracay Island
Malay Aklan
09053460464
White House Resort
Station 1, Boracay Island Malay Aklan
Tel No. 036-288-3675
ASYA PREMIER SUITES BORACAY
Sitio Cagban, Brgy. Manoc-Manoc,
Boracay Island Malay, Aklan Philippines 5608
Tel: (6336) 288.1790 Fax: (6336) 288.1789
TILAPIA N' CHIPS
G/F Kamayan Bldg. Station 2, Balabag, Boracay Island,
Malay
Phone:(036) 288 2283
BANS RESORT
Station 1, Barangay Balabag, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan
Tel. Nos.: (036) 288-3156 / (036) 288-3837
Fax No.: (036) 288-4510
Mobile No.: (0909) 691-1038
CROWN REGENCY & CONVENTION CENTER
Boat Station 2, Main Road
Barangay Balabag, Boracay Island
Malay, Aklan 5608, Philippines
Phone number: (+6336) 506 3111
Fax number: (+6336) 506 3131
E-mail: [email protected]
CANYON DE BORACAY
Station 2 Alice in Wonderland, St. Boracay Island, Malay,
Borocay Island, Philippines
OLE Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant
D’Mall Phase 4 -#1, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
Phone number: (036) 288-5940
Email: [email protected]
Website:www.oleinboracay.com
The Orient Sun Travel and Tours
Across E'Mall, Zone 7 Manggayad Highway, Manoc-Manoc,
Boracay Island Malay Aklan,
(036) 288-2789/09278220727
Email:[email protected]/[email protected]
EMERGENCY HOT LINES
Municipal Tourism Office Department of Tourism - D’Mall
Boracay Tourist Assistant Center/PNP
Boracay Action Group
Red Cross
Phil. Coast Guard
Boracay Hospital
Bureau of Fire Protection
Municipal Health Office
Mayor’s Office
Malay Auxiliary Police
PNP Cagban
(036) 288-7108
(036) 288-3689
(036) 288-3066
(036) 288-2338
(036) 288-2068
(036) 288-6150
(036) 288- 3041
(036) 288-4198
(036) 288-5624
(036) 288-8772
(036) 288-5269
(036) 288-4392
For iMap inclusion, just contact:
(036) 288-2418
www.boracayinformer.com
BORACAY INFORMER | 14