TH1803

TASK PERFORMANCE: Case Analysis: Boracay Rehabilitation

Boracay’s Six-Month Closure
On April 26, 2018, the Philippine government ordered to close and shut down tourism operations in Boracay
Island for half a year. The objective of the closure was to rehabilitate the island because it turned out to be a
“cesspool.” The island is known as a prime party destination in Asia.
Boracay is a 10-square-kilometer island that has at least 350 hotels, restaurants, and other tourist
establishments that are operational. It has a population of 40,000 and at least 3.72 million visitors (foreign and
local) in 2017 alone. The island’s carrying capacity has not been determined yet but local and national officials
agree that the island needs to be decongested by regulating the number of people visiting and staying in
Boracay.
The island was called a “cesspool” due to its lack of proper wastewater treatment and sewage systems. It was
reported that pipes are discharging wastewaters into the shores of the 4-kilometer stretch white beach. The
residents also don’t know the difference between the two (2) types of sewage systems in the island:
• Those that are meant to drain rain and flood water out of the island; and
• Those that are connected to water treatment facilities that clean wastewater before discharging them
at least 500 meters away from the beach.
Data collected from water companies in Boracay (Boracay Island Water Company [BIWC] and Boracay Tubi
System, Inc. [BTSI]) indicates that only two (2) out of the three (3) barangays in the island had a sewage system.
BIWC has pledged 1 billion pesos to build a 24-kilometer sewage network in the remaining barangay in 2019,
while BTSI has conducted feasibility studies before it builds its own.
For tourism establishments, the Philippine government issues “discharge permits” to hotels that have their
sewage plants which allow them to operate. Some are issued with the same permits as well, given that they
are capable of treating their own wastewater. However, it is argued that allowing hotels to manage their own
wastewater treatment facilities is not ideal for sustainability. The reason behind is that it is not the core
competency of hotels to manage wastewater treatment since it requires hard labor. It will also require the
administrators to check day in and day out if all establishments are complying with proper wastewater
treatment.
Roads in the island were also proposed to be widened since the road could only accommodate 1,200 vehicles.
The current number of vehicles present in the island has reached approximately 6,000 which prompted the
development of a 500-million-peso road widening project.
With the island’s closure, several employment cuts and a decline in business sales were expected. Around
36,000 formal and informal workers had to leave the island to find jobs elsewhere or opt to apply as cleaners
and construction workers for the rehabilitation of the island under the in-charge government branches. Some
thought that the wages were not enough, while some opted to stay. The government provided 520 million
pesos to provide transportation assistance to those non-residents who will leave the island for other job
opportunities.
Wetlands that catch and store water from rainstorms serve as natural filters, where the water is treated before
it is released to the sea. These wetlands are reportedly gone due to the construction of shops and resorts and
due to illegal settlers. In order to restore its capability and purpose, buildings were demolished. Families
affected by restoring the wetlands were willing to comply, given that they would be properly relocated and
big establishments would be demolished first.
Developments of establishments were also seen in several zones of the island. However, the government had
stopped the construction of facilities in the said zones to prioritize the restoration of habitats and natural

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resources. Several establishments had shown support with the government’s plan to prioritize the natural
resources given that they would provide more specific details about the plan, so they could adjust their
operations accordingly. Agricultural lands also underwent land reform and were given to the farmers and
tribes.
The island produces 76 tons of garbage per day. Biodegradable wastes are used as fertilizers, recyclables are
sold to junk shops, and the rest are ferried to the mainland dumpsite. Sheds are proposed to be built for the
improvement of solid waste management systems. Garbage fees are also planned to be imposed in
establishments.
Lifted and modified from:
Domingo, K. (2018). The Boracay Project. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/specials/the-boracay-project on
April 29, 2019

Questions:
1. Provide and explain one by one the indicators which prompted the need for Boracay Island to be
closed for rehabilitation.

2. Explain the effects of the Boracay rehabilitation program to the three (3) dimensions of sustainable
tourism (environmental, economic, and social).

3. How can this problem be avoided from happening again should you be in charge of Boracay’s
rehabilitation?

Instructions:
1. Given the above case study, your group is required to do the following:
a. Answer the questions legibly, clearly, concisely.
b. Analyze the case and give appropriate solution.

2. Place your answers on a Word file and submit it via eLMS Dropbox.

3. You will be graded according to the rubric below.

CRITERIA PERFORMANCE INDICATORS POINTS
Provided well-thought-out solutions and clear explanation of ideas 40
Content Answers reflect full understanding of the case provided. 40
Used simple terminologies that are easy to understand. 10
Organization Expressed the points in a clear and logical arrangement of ideas
10
of ideas based on the given flow of information
TOTAL 100

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