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REP. MICHAEL “MIKEE” L. ROMERO, Ph. D.
1-PACMAN Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader
Member, Aquaculture & Fisheries Resources, Public Information and
6 other Committees Twitter: @MikeeRomeroPhD

RANKING SOLON PROPOSES RATIONAL APPROACH TO BORACAY SEWAGE PROBLEMS

The tourism industry and local governments in Boracay has long neglected sustainability concerns the DENR, environmentalists, and researchers have been raising for years now.

It has taken no less than President Duterte himself to finally shock them into a reality check. Will we have to wait until hundreds of tourists get sick when they ingest contaminated waters of Boracay? The time for action, indeed, is now.

As a legislator who cares for the future of Boracay, I urge the DENR, DILG and DoT to take actions which will involve these components:
IMMEDIATE
·            Scientific conduct of water testing with appropriate audit controls;
·            Identification of the specific coastal and inland areas of Boracay where water contamination is most hazardous to least problematic;
·            Cordoning off of the medium and high-risk areas while keeping open to tourists the low-risk and minimal risk areas;
·            Mobilization of barangays and residents for massive and regular coastal clean-up and inland waste segregation—using the work for pay scheme.
·            High-risk areas in Boracay be declared calamity zones to allow government to tap calamity funds to help residents whose employment/livelihood will be affected;
·            Formation and deployment of multisectoral task force, including volunteers from environment groups and local resident, working together in cooperation and common purpose;
·            Deployment of portable water purification systems to medium-risk and high risk areas;
MEDIUM-TERM
·            Approve sewerage infrastructure programs for the coastal towns and inland barangays of Boracay;
·            Capability-upgrading for LGUs and tourism establishments in Boracay on sanitation and sustainable development program implementation;
·            Audit and upgrading (if necessary) of Boracay health facilities for capability to respond to water-borne diseases;
·            Declare parts of Boracay as protected areas;
·            Include in the 2019 budget the necessary provisions for Boracay's environmental and sustainable development;

LONG-TERM
·            Install/build the Boracay sewerage and sanitation system in segments or phases starting in late 2018/2019. Complete the system in two to three years; and
·            Build the needed support systems, including roads and transport facilities to improve Boracay as the country's premiere tourist destination.

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