BORACAY ISLAND– Barangay Manoc-Manoc in this resort island started its own identification (ID) system as one of the community efforts to ensure safety in Boracay.
Manoc Manoc Barangay chairman Abriam Sualog said they must compliment the needed safety standards not only for its residents but also for tourists staying in this resort island.
The Barangay Manoc-Manoc is the largest barangay of Malay town with over 2,000 residents.
"Europe and other countries have already their own ID system. We encouraged residents and foreigners residing here to voluntary register at the barangay council to avail of our Barangay ID system. I assure my constituents that they will be benefited with this system," said Sualog.
The village has a computerized automated system as data base. Part of the process to avail of the ID is to secure a barangay clearance first.
"We only charged P150 those interested to avail of the ID. We are only complying with necessary legal requirements before we could compel residents to avail of it," said Sualog.
The ID is made available not more than 30 minutes after the application is filed. The document contains basic personal information with photograph of the bearer.
The barangay chief said that bearers of ID will be prioritized in the provision of services since they are already identified as bonafide resident of the place.
A resident who stayed in the barangay for a minimum of six months can qet an ID.
BORACAY — The Malay council plans to pass a local ordinance prohibiting the sale of endangered sea shells in this resort island.
This came in heels of reports that authorities from the Kalibo International Airport and the Caticlan Airport were confiscating items made of shells, which were believed to be endangered, being brought by tourists.
Tourists claimed they did not know that the items were endangered since they were being sold by local vendors along the beach.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which identified the endangered shell species, also expressed support to the planned legislation.
The town council also plans to request BFAR to inspect the establishments reported to have been selling such endangered shells.
Meanwhile, the BFAR expressed concern over the endangered species being brought outside of Boracay.
The agency said the items were often transported unnoticed through the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.
It also reported that this resort island is experiencing reef destruction due to overfishing./
BORACAY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is encouraging owners of business establishments, especially resorts, in this resort island to sell and promote Aklan products.
Among the Aklanon products that could be made available in resorts here are slippers, food, handicrafts and locally made souvenir items.
According to DTI Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena, the Hugod Aklanon Association is considering a possible partnership with Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI).
Hugod Aklanon is a group of entrepreneurs while BFI is one of the major business groups here.
“We in the DTI allow the exploration between the Hugod and BFI to flourish. We would like to see this partnership by encouraging the business sector to directly order from Aklan producers instead of ordering supplies from other provinces,” said Cadena.
“Hugod and BFI will be the ones to discuss whatever products they will deliver (to Boracay). We (DTI) are just facilitating their possible partnership,” he added.
Hugod and BFI will conduct a week-long fair of Aklan products on May 28 at the front beach of One MGM Resort.
“We expect this partnership to boost the sales of local entrepreneurs in the province,” Cadena said./
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan– Artist activist Tomas Leonor is now in Aklan to prepare for the culmination of his 56-day walk that was aimed at raising funds for the benefit of children with cancer.
The walk expedition, dubbed as "Step Juan", started in Allen, Samar and since then Leonor has already traveled some 1, 178 kilometers passing 33 major cities and 150 towns stopping only to take food and have a little rest.
His walk for a cause is devoted for children with cancer under the "Tawid Pangkalusugan Program" of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
"We are not just gathering to start a media gimmick or to create a passive awareness for cancer. We are all volunteers who assemble towards a common working goal of curing children inflicted with cancer. The children we hope to assist are all from the Cancer Warriors Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers treatment, assistance and care to children with cancer," he said.
Leonor arrived in Aklan over the weekend where he made a courtesy call at the office of Governor Carlito Marquez, former Congressman Allen Quimpo and other government officials as he encouraged them to join his cause.
His walk will culminate evening of May 28 in Boracay Island after a series of activities in this resort island in the morning.
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
BORACAY – Domestic and international tourists here are safe, stressed Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director.
Even then, Querol deployed 50 more policemen to help the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office secure the tiny, dog-bone shaped, 10.32-square kilometer island.
There is no specific terror threat in the country following the death in Pakistan of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, but members of President Benigno Aquino III’s security cluster are under orders to monitor developments and ensure that necessary precautions are in place to stave off possible retaliatory attacks.
Boracay is the country’s most recognizable tourist destination, attracting foreign and local vacationers.
Statistics generated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office 6 showed that visitor head count and tourist receipts in million pesos have been consistently increasing for the last 10 years since year 2001.
Querol said more policemen in Boracay would mean better security for the tourists.
The 50 policemen he deployed came from the Regional Mobile Group based in Negros Occidental. These cops were reassigned to Kalibo, Aklan in January for the Ati-Atihan Festival and had been staying in the town since.
Boracay Island police chief, Supt. Samuel Nacion has ordered his cops to render two shifting duties to ensure the island’s security day and night.
“We have enough men roaming around, plus security guards posted in various beach resorts,” said Nacion.
“So far, Boracay is peaceful. There are no big incidents except for some petty crimes,” he added.
President Aquino ordered the military and the police to be on full alert following the killing of bin Laden.
“The death of Osama bin Laden marks a signal defeat for the forces of extremism and terrorism,” Aquino said.
But Aquino said the death of bin Laden “should not lull us into complacency” even as he called for vigilance
.
“Together with my national security team, we continue to take all relevant precautions and steps to ensure the safety of our people. We, as a democratic and free people, remain committed to fighting terrorism and are in solidarity with the peoples of the United Nations,” Aquino added.
The development has prompted the US State Department to issue travel alerts for its nationals.
There are motley of Americans in Boracay but most of the foreigners are Europeans and Asians.
According to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the vast clear blue sea, powdery white sand, and rays of yellow sunshine are the perfect combination that entice tourists to the world-renowned Boracay, notwithstanding the many other activities and services there such as snorkeling, island hopping, boat sailing, spa and massage resorts.
Defense Undersecretary and spokesman Eduardo Batac said terrorists were certainly planning retaliatory attacks but the Philippines might be far from their minds.
“We know the terrorists will always come up with retaliatory action but as to targeting the Philippines, I think we would be very far in the priority list,” Batac said in a press briefing.
“However, we again caution our people that we have to remain vigilant and alert. It’s the only way that we can combat terrorism,” he said.
This beach capital of the Philippines has never been failed by tourists for the last 10 years, NSCB stressed.
Statistics generated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 showed that visitor head count and tourist receipts in million pesos have been consistently increasing in Boracay for the last 10 years since year 2001.
The highest increase in visitor arrivals was in 2004 with 26.3 percent (89,325) and in 2010 by 20.0 percent (130,107). Correspondingly, receipts increased by P1.6 billion in 2004 and P2.4 billion in 2010.
Statistics further showed that in terms of tourist population, Boracay is largely dominated by domestic tourists.
In absolute terms, of the total visitor arrivals (779,666) in Boracay in 2010, 60.81 percent were domestic, 35.72 percent were foreign, and 3.47 percent were overseas Filipinos (OFs).
On the average, 2,136 visitors everyday or 64,972 visitors monthly come to Boracay to soil their feet with powdery-white sand and/or plunge into crystal clear waters and/or roam around the entire island not only for the scene but also to get a feel of being there.
Nowadays, even OFs also include Boracay in their shopping list of places to visit when they come home to the Philippines either for leisure or shopping for investment.
OFs arrivals in Boracay in 2010 increased by 10.7 percent, from its 24,415 level in 2009 it soared to 27,038 in 2010.
Interestingly, in 2010, Boracay visitors were highly dominated by Koreans (40 percent), Taiwanese (22 percent) and Chinese (16 percent).
As in the past, for every 100 visitors, 41 percent were Korean nationals.
Other foreign nationals which made Boracay their choice of leisure in 2010 came from: USA (six percent); United Kingdom, Australia, and Hongkong (three percent each); and Japan, Germany and Canada (two percent each).
BORACAY — A brighter future awaits Philippine tourism as Filipinos have been increasingly becoming tourism-conscious, the Regional Tourism Council chief said.
More and more provinces in the Western Visayas are developing their tourist attractions, helping improve the country’s tourism, said Vicky Ramos-Antonino.
Tourism destinations in the provinces like this resort island were discovered only in the 1980s, according to Antonino.
“It is apparent that we still have a young tourism industry, but (it) continues to be vibrant,” she said.
Other tourism destinations discovered in the same decade include those in Palawan, Subic, Baguio City and Bohol.
Prior to these discoveries, tourism destinations were found mostly in Metro Manila like the Manila Zoo, Intramuros and the Manila Bay.
Meanwhile, the tourism council said Aklan targets to attract one million tourists next year.
Iloilo province, on the other hand, is also developing more tourism destinations to lure more tourists, it added.
Tess Lapuz-Lardizabal , Journal
DOLORA and Sumit Khanna helped geophysicist Jesse Liam Cannon dream big in Boracay. With sleek tongues, both suspects convinced the UK-North Ireland-Australian citizen that he could own a condo unit in the tropical paradise for P6 million. However, the fantasy home crumbled and vanished like a sand castle after the Khannas had already received P3.7 million from the victim.
“The money I invested in Boracay was saved over all years of working at sea and losing everything had a huge effect on my well-being. Since this happened to me I have been battling with deep feelings of depression and anxiety, I can say that I have suffered in ways which is so powerful it can be compared to physical damage,” said Cannon.
It wasn’t long before Cannon learned that the Khannas had been trying to sell to him a non-existent property at an area in Boracay called The Cliff. The Fairways and Bluewater Resort has also stated that it did not issue an authority to sell the units of Sofia Condominium to Dolora and Sumit.
On Nov. 12, 2010, Cannon filed charges for violation of Section No. 5, in relation to Section No. 39, of Presidential Decree No. 957 against BLH officials Dolora “Dolly” C. Khanna, CEO; Sumit Khana, director of operations and marketing; Rochelle Fender, director of international sales; Darrel Girdner, general manager; Joseph Rose, director of finance; Rex Carlson, director of finance; and Julie Rose, marketing and business development consultant.
The case was filed before the Department of Justice.
Last May 3, 2011, the Department of Justice- Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Kalibo, Aklan, ruled in favor of Cannon.
In a resolution by Ronaldo B. Ingente, second assistant provincial prosecutor, and approved by Provincial Prosecutor Ma. Maya Bien G. Mayor-Tolentino, the respondents were charged for violation of Presidential Decree No. 957 “since they sold properties which need prior license from the concerned government agency.”
The DOJ-Provincial Prosecutor’s Office-Aklan also ordered that an information for estafa and another information for violation of Section 39 of Presidential Decree o. 957 be filed against the Khanas.
“Maybe if I had been from a rich family it would not be so difficult, but all the money I invested was made from my own work,” said Cannon. “At the beginning, I felt confident enough to put all my trust in the Philippines, I noticed that good publicity was beginning to emerge about this paradise country, but what happened here has left me hugely shocked and disappointed. I feel that there is only one positive way to save this situation. And that is, if we will be able to find justice together with the help of the good people at People’s Tonight. I would like to appeal to all of the good people out here in the Philippines to help us find justice for the people that get hurt by things like this.”
Cannon also expressed relief that he has sighted a glimmer of hope and justice with the DOJ resolution.
“My girlfriend, who comes from Manila, has been very supportive of me through this. Because of what happened in Boracay, it will be many more years before I can buy a house for us to live in or give her a nice wedding that she would want. She has stuck beside me through all of the ups and downs and I couldn’t ask for a better companion,” he added.
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay- Malay Mayor John Yap has urged residents here to support the 2011 Hala Bora All Star Weekend of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The PBA All Star players already arrived in this resort island Wednesday after making a courtesy call at the office of Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez.
The All-Star Game pitting the North Stars and the South Stars is looking forward to the repeat of the performance in Puerto Princesa, Palawan last year with the former defeating the latter in a 133-132 decision.
"Many of the residents are patronizing PBA games in television sets. I hope they would patronize the game as they now see the games live in this resort island," Yap said.
Security personnel have been deployed by the local police station here to ensure peace and order during the entire duration of the event.
Aside from their games at the Boracay Convention Center here, players are expected to party with tourists during their stay in this resort island.
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Task Force Boracay is set to conduct an ocular inspection in the beaches of this resort island on Thursday.
Some stakeholders in this resort island have reported that beach erosions caused by the growing number of commercial centers have become a prevalent problem for Boracay.
Officials of the task force said that the condition of the white sand beaches will be the main focus of its quarterly meeting scheduled on the same day.
The white sand beaches are the main attraction of this world renown island resort.
The task force is composed of representatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, provincial and local government, among others.
BORACAY — A 21-year-old Filipino-Korean girl claimed to have been raped by a Filipino man in a hotel here.
Rape charges against the 26-year-old suspect were already filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
The suspect is currently detained in the Aklan Rehabilitation Center in Brgy. Nalook, Kalibo town.
According to a source privy to the case, the suspect was surprised when the self-proclaimed victim filed a rape complaint against the latter.
The source described the victim as “a socialite, pretty and liberated.”
The suspect who hails from Luzon befriended the girl, after which they went to parties and drank beer together, said the source.
The next day, the source said, the girl reported to the authorities that she has been raped.
Police said this is the second rape case reported in this resort island for this year.
The first one, reported two months ago, involved a 40-year-old masseuse of nearby Romblon province.
By Francis Allan L. Angelo
TOURIST arrivals and tourism earnings in Boracay Island in Aklan have been on the uptrend in the past 10 years, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).
Citing statistics from the Department of Tourism (DOT-6), the NSCB said arrivals in Boracay went up from 264,807 (both foreign and domestic) to 779,666 last year.
Tourism receipts (revenues from spending of tourists) in the past 10 years are also on the upswing from P4.868 billion in 2001 to P14.332 billion.
The highest increase in visitor arrival was in 2004 at 26.3 percent (89,325 tourists) and in 2010 at 20 percent (130,107 tourists). Correspondingly, receipts increased by P1.6 billion in 2004 and P2.4 billion in 2010.
In terms of tourist population, Boracay is largely dominated by domestic tourists. In 2010, a total of 779,666 tourists arrived in Boracay, 60.81 percent were domestic tourists, 35.72 percent were foreigners while Overseas Filipino Workers comprised the remaining 3.47 percent.
On the average, 2,136 visitors everyday or 64,972 visitors monthly come to Boracay to soil their feet with the powdery-white sand and plunge into crystal clear waters or roam around the entire island.
Even OFWs also include Boracay in their list of places to visit when they come home to the Philippines, either for leisure or shopping for investment. OFW arrivals in Boracay last year increased by 10.7 percent to 27,038 from 24,415 in 2009.
Also in 2010, Boracay visitors were dominated by Koreans (40%), Taiwanese (22%), and Chinese (16%).
As in the past, for every 100 visitors, 41 percent are Korean nationals. Other foreign nationals who made Boracay their place of leisure last year come from: USA (6%); United Kingdom, Australia, and Hongkong (3% each); and Japan, Germany, and Canada (2% each).
High influx of visitors in Boracay was in summertime of 2010. The peak season commenced March with 75,705 visitor arrivals (9.7%); April with 101,349 visitor arrivals (13.0%); and May with 81,251 visitor arrivals (11.2%). Estimated monthly receipts during these months was at P1.4 billion, P1.9 billion, and P1.6 billion, respectively.
The NSCB also noticed that various tourist groups have their own preferred periods in visiting Boracay Island. In 2010, the influx of domestic visitors was high in the months of April at 78,400 (16.5%); May saw 64,390 visitor (3.5%); March with 51,341 visitors (10.8%); and June with 42,910 tourists (9.1%).
For overseas Filipinos, however, December and January are the most meaningful months for them and their families to be in Boracay. OFW arrivals in the island totaled 3,569 (13.2%) in December and 3,469 (12.8%) in January which is “Ati-atihan” month in Aklan.
Foreign visitors, on the other hand, enjoyed being in Boracay during the months of August, February and July. Highest visitor arrivals at 28,841 (10.4%) was registered in August; 28,791 (10.3%) in February; and 24,862 (8.9%) in July.
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- A 30-megawatt wind power project is expected to rise in Aklan province.
Nearby Nabas town Mayor Romeo Dalisay said that two power producing firms are interested on the project. One of these is reportedly the Petrol Corporation.
"If materialized, this will be the first wind power project in the island of Panay," Dalisay said, adding that the Petrol power firm is nearly finishing its six month feasibility study on the project.
The wind power is expected to boost energy capability of this investment haven resort island.
Currently, Boracay Island gets its electricity from the renewable energy being provided by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and from a coal fired power plant in Iloilo City.
The San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is also exploring possibilities of investing in the said town.
Meantime, a P1 billion polo club is expected to be operational this year in adjacent Nabas town.
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Regional Tourism Council is planning to establish a unified tourism zone in Western Visayas so that all of its provinces would benefit from the tourism allure of this resort island.
Vicky Ramos-Antonino, chair of the tourism council, said she is now visiting different provinces in the region to assess the tourism strength and weaknesses in the different areas.
"We are eyeing Aklan to be the center of tourism, Iloilo and Negros Occidental provinces will highlight cultural heritage, Antique and Guimaras provinces for eco-tourism and Capiz will cater for culinary experience as the seafood capital of the country," Antonino said.
The plan for a unified tourism zone is expected to boost the planned revival of the Panay Railway System and the open sky policy for both the Kalibo International Airport and the Iloilo Airport.
"We are doing this unified tourism zone so that provinces in the region will not be competing with each other but instead complement one another," she added.
Once the unified tourism zone is in place, the tourism council will then be drafting tour packages to encourage tourists to explore other tourism potentials in the region.
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, Aklan - The environment coordinator of Malay Mayor John Yap warned stakeholders here of massive beach erosion if they continue not to take care of this resort island.
Elena Brugger said that beach erosion could be further felt with the onset of the climate change in this resort island.
"Climate change experts tell us that there will be a one meter sea level rise in the near future. This is equivalent to a one meter beach erosion in Boracay. In the white beach we could see many tables and chairs symbolizing business as usual for Boracay, it should have been planted by trees as defense for our coastal areas," she said.
Among the indicators of the worsening beach erosion in this resort island is the sprouting of pipelines of industries. The Diniwid area is also not accessible to tourists during high tide and rainy seasons due to flooding.
The Diniwid area suffers from beach erosion because some establishments in the area are not compliant with the environmental law.
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay- A tourism executive believed that the tourism industry will be boosted now that Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin laden is dead.
Department of Tourism (DoT) regional director Edwin Trompeta said that people are now more keen on visiting tourists destinations because their fear of possible terrorism scare would decrease.
He however urged tourists to be vigilant still to ensure peaceful vacation.
"For Boracay, its stakeholders must put up necessary facilities to prepare for more influx of tourists," Trompeta said.
This early, the DoT noted a 15 percent increase of both foreign and local tourists coming to Boracay compared to that of last year's data.
"Boracay remains to be one of the best beaches in the world," Trompeta said.
Police officials on the other hand continue to be on their toes to secure tourists coming to this resort island this summer.
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay Aklan- The new police chief of the Boracay Special Tourists Police Office (BSTPO) is bent on enforcing the town’s anti-noise ordinance in response to various complaints by resort owners and guests here.
It was earlier learned that several resort owners complained that several of their guests have to leave their rented rooms in the middle of the night due to uncontrollable noise coming from disco bars here.
"We are now preparing to file charges against erring disco bar operators," said BSTPO chief, Supt. Samuel Nacion.
The fine for violation of the anti-noise ordinance was set at only P2,500.
Stakeholders said that while the Malay ordinance only limits disco sounds to 40 decibels, the volume of some of the disco bars along Balabag area has reached 71 decibels.
The decibels indicate the ratio of a physical quantity (usually power or intensity) relative to a specified or implied reference level. Decibel is usually used as a measurement in science and engineering, mostly in acoustics and electronics.
BORACAY — Amid the threat of typhoon Bebeng, hundreds of foreign and local tourists celebrated the first Panagat Festival in Buruanga, Aklan.
Competitions were held during the week-long festivity.
Among these were the boat paddling race and the fishing contest.
Most of the participants to these competitions were local fishermen and boat operators in Aklan.
The racing of fishermen from Buruanga town to nearby Boracay in a seven-kilometer route symbolize the extension of Aklan tourism brought about by the so-called Boracay magic, Vicky Ramos-Antonino of the Aklan Provincial Tourism Council said.
“One of our thrusts is to look for an alternative tourism destination to encourage tourists coming to Boracay to explore other areas as well. We are doing our best to accomplish this,” said Antonino.
Ariel Abriam, a businessman based in this resort island, said he partnered with the municipal government of Buruanga to organize the festival as he also promised to support the event every year.
“We believe in the town of Buruanga as an additional tourism attraction for Boracay tourists,” Abriam said.
He also expressed gratitude to the support of the Aklan Tourism Council, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and the media for “making the event a success.”
Buruanga, a fifth-class municipality in Aklan, supplies fish to Boracay.
Many of the town’s residents are fishermen and boat operators. (photo by Dexter Ree, Aklan Kamera Organization)
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is currently preparing for the security of the first roadside "Panagat" Festival in nearby Buruanga town.
Ariel Abriam, one of the organizers of the festival, said the presence of PCG during the festival is important since part of the activities is the Arie's Point Cup, a six kilometer rowing on May 7.
"There will be P45,000 cash prices, 25 cases of rums, 200 souvenir t-shirts, 20 cases of softdrinks, color television and other prices. The Sports Unlimited Channel of ABS-CBN will also cover this event," said Abriam.
Local boatmen and Buruanga residents are expected to benefit from the festival. According to Abriam, he assisted in the organization of the festival to extend tourism industry from Boracay to the said town.
Buruanga Mayor Quezon Labindao has also expressed support to the festival.
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay -- The Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) is not joining the protest rally set by different transport groups Monday and Tuesday.
Godofredo Sadiasa, CBTMPC president, said that they are not connected with any national transport strike, and that they are not too much affected by the rising oil prices as that their cooperative is getting oil supplies directly from the oil refinery and get cheaper prices of oil.
"We in the CBTMPC see the need to transport tourists everyday to ensure that they will not be stranded and that they would enjoy their vacation in this resort island. There is no stopping of our operation despite the transport strike," said Sadiasa.
The CBTMPC said that they have not increase the fare for the last four years and do not have plans to increase the current rate. All the members charge P25 daytime fare and P30 at night for each tourist coming to and from Boracay.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Aklan Integrated Transport Group Incorporated (FAITI) will be joining the transport holiday in support to their colleagues in the transport sector. But the group clarified they are not demanding any fare hike.
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay Aklan- The Malay council is eyeing the possibility of halting the operation of helmet diving in this resort island after a Taiwanese tourist nearly died recently after experiencing a freak accident.
Helmet diving, also known as reef walking, is supposedly for professional scuba divers only but it is considered one of the tourist activities in this resort island.
Helmet diving experts said that some of the gadgets of the heavy helmet often provide communication risks between tourists and the operators.
Helmet diving is often described as walking underwater for 30 minutes. Tourists are usually attracted to this because they will have a chance to explore the underwater scenery of Boracay which involves watching corals and colorful varying fish species.
Tourists are usually being transported through a water taxi to a location appropriate for helmet diving.
The Malay council has received reports that there were numerous freak accidents on helmet diving in the past and are investigating them. This is part of the council's effort to stop the helmet diving operation if proven they are found causing risks among foreign and local tourists.
Helmet diving is also dangerous for people with heart problems, asthmatic attacks and pregnant mothers.
BORACAY ISLAND-- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) continues its relentless campaign against illegal drugs here after receiving report on the proliferation of both illegal drug pushers and users in this resort island.
PDEA regional director Paul Ledesma said that they continue to focus in areas usually being flocked by tourists.
For the month of April alone, at least three drug suspects were arrested by the PDEA. All of them are residents of Manila and are working as tattoo artists.
Furthermore, he has already instructed his men to verify if there is an existing drug laboratory in nearby Nabas area town.
"We assure the media that we will be transparent with our illegal drug operation in Boracay," he said.
BORACAY – An American squad made up of breast cancer survivors hope to make a big splash when it competes for the first time in the 5th American Tourister International Dragonboat Festival firing off tomorrow here.
Known as the International Pink Sisters, the team is composed of 17 women paddlers from the US and four survivors from Manila.
They will be rowing together to the beat of the drum on a long canoe in a bid to snare the crown in the 13-squad women's division.
A record number of 44 teams will seeaction in the three-division event – women’s, men's and mixed – making this year's event the biggest in five years, according to Nenette Aguirre Graf of the organizing Boracay Island Paddlers Association.
The event features two main races: 300-meter and 500-meter.
Aside from the International Pink Sisters (USA), the other squads competing are Dragons of North America, Filipino Dragons (Singapore), Sydney Fire Dragons, The Royal X-Team (Hong Kong), The Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team, Onslaught Racing Dragons, Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team, Manila Wave Club, Boracay All Stars, Boracay Bombshells, Boracay Guardians and Guardians of Bumshells.
Touted as the biggest water sports event in the country, the event is presented by the Department of Tourism while the title-sponsor is American Tourister, an internationally-known American brand of suitcase./
