This Week in Boracay (December 1 to 7, 2018)

Though the maximum temperature is expected to be 29 °C, it will be humid throughout the week [1]. A couple of morning showers shall also be expected. The rest of the day, however, will still be sunny. With rain showers expected, an umbrella is a must. It is also much needed when you’re out on a midday. There is no need to worry if you have booked an island hopping or water activities this week. Since there is no any typhoon coming or weather disturbance expected, it is likely to push through.

The road concreting project from Cagban Port to Elizalde Property in Station 1, Barangay Balabag is expected to be completed by this week, according to Public Works and Highway Secretary Mark Villar who was quoted in media interviews [2]. The 4.1-kilometer road network is part of the first phase of the island’s rehab. Although main road has been concreted, finishing touches still need to be done. This includes the construction of the sidewalks and the installation of bricks. The relocation of electric and utility poles is also still ongoing.

A new runway at the Kalibo International Airport will soon catert to passengers bound for Boracay and other parts of Panay Island [3]. The new runway will allow more flights in the international airport. It can accommodate 11 aircraft at a given time and up to seven general aviation aircraft as well. With this, more passengers can now reach Boracay via Kalibo.

A cargo vessel sank on the waters of Boracay last November 4. The vessel sank while on its way to Barangay Manocmanoc due to big waves. Luckily, no casualty was reported and there are also no signs of oil spill. However, the Philippine Coast Guard in Caticlan is urging for the immediate removal of the sunken ship for its potential threat to pumpboats and ships to Boracay. While still waiting for the ship to be removed, a coy marker was put up to serve as a warning.

The closure period may be over but some workers are still suffering from the impact of losing their livelihood for six months. To address this, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region is eyeing on implementing the second phase of its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). This time, they are pushed to focus on other sources of income that are not dependent on tourism.

To help the sustainability of solid waste management operations in the island, a local official is proposing an ordinance on tipping charges for garbage collection. The tipping charges are being eyed to help as cost recovery for the town. The proposed ordinance is pushing for tipping charges of P10 per kilo of regular waste and P670 per kilo of toxic waste.