CANADA-PHILIPPINES COOPERATIVE PROGRAM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BORACAY ISLAND, PHILIPPINES
Confronting the Sustainable Development Issues
:::::[ Located off the shores of Panay, Boracay island measures a little more than a thousand hectares and only seven kilometers long. Since it was discovered by tourists more than two decades ago, Boracay played hosts to more and more visitors a far cry from the 1970s when it was a fishing village seeing only occasional visitors. Today it is the singles biggest destination in the country.
:::::[ While crystal clear waters, spectacular sunset, the corals and warm safe waters are among the island's biggest attractions, its most prize characteristics is its white sand, as fine as sugar. This sun-drenched island was acclaimed as among the world's best tropical beach, courtesy of bewitched travel writers.
:::::[ Boracay is also home to fishers communities and Aeta, an indigenous people. They lived by farming, fishing and constructing bancas or outrigger canoes. They hunt on the foothills and gather medicinal and edible plants in the forested interior of the island.
The Program: Working Together for Sustainability
:::::[ To assist people of Boracay and the local government officials of Malay on how best to manage the premier tourist destination, the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) in partnership with the Department of Tourism established the Canada-Philippines Cooperative Program on Sustainable Development for Boracay Island. The two agencies have been working with the municipal government of Malay, provincial government of Aklan, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the people of Boracay towards environmental, economic and social sustainability of the island.
:::::[ The CUI provides technical expertise to the program while DOT brings firsthand knowledge in managing tourist sites. The rest of the agencies and groups input advice and make the program effective.
:::::[ The program has several stages designed to respond to the environmental problems of Boracay.
:::::[ The first is training of tourism personnel and local government officials on how best to implement and manage environment-friendly projects.
:::::[ The program works with communities and civic groups towards implementing an integrated environmental management plan and solid waste management plan. It will also assist concerned groups to monitor impact of tourism growth on environment, culture and economy in Boracay. These watch-groups would make sure that the local tourism industry is progressing towards sustainability.
:::::[ Community participation and awareness raising are the key components of the program so that the people make informed decisions in taking steps to protect the island from the frenzy of tourism growth.
:::::[ It is envisioned that a public-private development council will be formed to be responsible for the planning, management, regulating and promotion of Boracay Island on a sustainable basis.
Program Accomplishments:
:::::[ The program came up with an environmental management plan for sustainable development of Boracay, the components of which are the organizational and governance alternatives for the island. The plan will be used by stakeholders as basis for establishing a sustainable development body for Boracay Island.
:::::[ It has also assisted the Municipality of Malay in assessing the solid waste management situation of the island and developed an action plan to address the solid waste problem. A Boracay Solid Waste Action Team was organized to implement the components of the solid waste management plan.
:::::[ Part of these is the conscious efforts of building the capabilities of the staff of the Municipality of Malay and Department of Tourism in sustainable tourism development.
Future Directions: A Sea of Opportunity
:::::[ A sustainable future for a paradise that is Boracay is possible if the people of Boracay think and act in new ways. Tourism development must also address environmental protection and community development as well as encourage involvement of stakeholders in the process. Sustainable tourism development for Boracay means ensuring the environmental and economic well-being of the island while maintaining its attraction as a premier tourist destination of the Philippines.
:::::[ To sustain the initial gains, the Boracay stakeholders want to see a public-private development council or authority effectively implementing sustainable development initiatives. Activities include broad-based community awareness and public involvement, capacity building of the proposed development council or authority on sustainable tourism development, realization of the solid waste management plans, and installation of the environmental monitoring system.
:::::[ The CUI-DOT partnership was created to inspire active participation of all sectors in creating opportunity to remedy the current problems of Boracay as well as avoid future ones. Already there are a few successes. The zero waste management project had already taken off and has a broadest participation of sectors, groups and communities in the island. Stakeholders in Boracay have close ranks to make sure that Boracay continues to be the jewel of the country's tourism industry.
Funded by:
:::::[ CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY (CIDA)
:::::[ DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
:::::[ Boracay Field Office
:::::[ Boat Station II Boracay Island
:::::[ Boracay Island, Aklan, Philippines
:::::[ Phone (6336) 288-3689
:::::[ Fax (6336) 288-3689
:::::[ E-mail: cui@boracay.webquest.com
For more information, contact:
:::::[ Canadian Urban Institute-Philippines
:::::[ 2nd Floor, MaryMart Mall, Valeria Street, Iloilo City
:::::[ Philippines Tel/Fax: (6333) 3350562
:::::[ Websites: www.angelfire.com/il2/cuiphils (LOCAL)
:::::[ or visit:www.canurb.com (MAIN)
:::::[ E-mail: cuiphils@i-iloilo.com.ph
