DASECO, ANDEA R. BSHRM2F 1.

In 1978, Boracay Island was one of the islands in the Philippines declared as tourist zones and marine reserves. Any development projects or construction for any purpose were not allowed without the approval of the Philippine President. The then Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) was tasked to delineate well defined geographic areas within the zone with potential tourism value, promulgate rules and regulations, and coordinate the integrated development of these areas for the optimum use of natural assets and attractions as well as existing facilities. A 1981 proclamation would further place Boracay Island under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System having been declared a tourist zone in 1978. This implies that all projects within the zone were to undergo EIA. With the increase in number of tourists came a corresponding increase in development. PTA spearheaded the construction of the main road plying through the middle of the island, from North to South, followed by the sewerage system. Source of water was still ground water until the 90s. Public transportation on the island has not been developed until the roads main road was completed. Up until the late 90s, coming to Boracay was only via land transfer from Iloilo City, which had an airport then five hours away from the jumpoff point to the Island. Boracay can also be reached by land from Kalibo (2 hours away) which had a pier for boats coming from Manila. A few pump boats, mostly fishing boats which doubled as passenger boats, carried passengers from Caticlan to the Island. The boat trip took about five to ten minutes, depending on the weather. Passengers would be brought directly to the long White Beach boat stations. According to locals, tourist arrivals in the 70s and 80s increased because of foreign expat travelers visiting the place from other Southeast Asian countries. One theory they attribute this increased popularity to was the filming in 1970 on Boracay Island of the movie Too Late The Hero starring Michael Caine, set in the last months of World War II. Another theory was the publication of a German travel writers account of his visit to the island in the 80s, which encouraged European backpackers to trek this Philippine paradise island. However, regardless of the reasons for the rising number of tourist arrivals, the President subsequently recognized the increasing number of tourists visiting Boracay Island. With this came the need to prevent the proliferation of activities that would degrade the ecosystem and destroy the natural The legal policies and mandates vested in various government units and national agencies have complicated the management process of Boracay Island as a tourism zone and at the same time a forest and agricultural land. A saving grace to this decadeslong dilemma could be the newly enacted Tourism Act of 2009.

2. Later on in the 70s, tourists began to be lured to the beauty of the island. The pure white powdery sands that cover the infamous 4-km stretch of the White Beach, the palm fringed white powdery sand beaches and coves, the mangrove systems, the trees that covered most parts of the island, the flying foxes and the vast marine life of turtles, dolphins, mantas, small sharks and other diverse species of marine life, comprised the ecological make up of the island that made it most promising in attracting foreign tourists. One of the currently protected species that the government has taken notice of are the Flying Fruit Bats, known to be seed dispersers that contribute to the degeneration of the islands forest. But years of political indecision as to who is in charge, or who shall control and manage the development on the island, have advanced the private interests of businessmen and tourism industry players who took the opportunity to their full advantage. This led to the proliferation of developments that did not necessarily comply with tourism standards that were set by various legal mandates, directives and local regulations. Implementation was piecemeal as these policy documents were never integrated into a single mandate for all agencies and groups involved. Boracay Island is currently carrying about 8,000 room accommodations, about 300 resorts ranging from hostel-type to 5-star luxury accommodations and 500 restaurants, and a hundred different establishments ranging from retail, transport and communication services, educational institutions, medical facilities, retail stores, supermarkets, repair shops, construction and property development companies, and many other services and establishments, catering to both tourists and local hospitality service providers (such as resort staff) as well as expatriate residents. Most of these tourism developments are concentrated in the area of Barangay Balabag, the barangay with the smallest land area of 274 hectares comprising 27.2% of the island. 3. I will not let anyone to go in boracay, there are only limited tourist to go there and the people live in boracay will help the marine organism to save their houses. . Properly managing the marine protected areas (marine parks) and the rehabilitation of the mangrove systems on the island are initiatives that pave the way for re-establishing Boracay Island as an eco-tourism destination, with responsible tourism industry players initiating the move towards as sustainable development through the support of integrated laws and policies.