Operations at Jetty Port now back to normal after tsunami alert

BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, Aklan- The operation at the Caticlan-Cagban Jetty Port here has returned to normal after it was suspended Friday last week due to a tsunami alert following the earthquake and tsunami incidents in Japan.

Niven Maquirang, Caticlan jetty port administrator, said the operation was suspended in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

"Although Boracay was not included in the tsunami threat, we would like to maintain order for Boracay tourists and residents to ensure their safety. We would like to call on residents to continue being vigilant during these times," said Maquirang.

A Statement on PAGCOR/CASINO entry in Boracay Island

By Councilor Jonathan Cabrera

We, as Local Government is mandated to deliver basic services and think of measures that will preserve and protect the general welfare of our constituents.

In reality, the budget of our LGU (185M for 2011) is only enough for the operation of the Municipality on personal services, capital outlay, maintenance and other operating expenses. Pero marami pang dapat paglaanan ng pundo to ensure the full delivery of basic social services to our constituents like: livelihood, medical, infra, equipments, etc. 

Para mangyari to, kailangan naming mag isip ng mga pamamaraan para makalikom ng mas maraming local revenue at makipag ugnayan sa ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan who are potential in extending supports, aids and assistance for our community.

In Boracay, it’s the fact that gambling involving tourists is happening. Halimbawa may mga turista na nagcheck in sa isang hotel, nabagot na sa kaiikot sa isla kaya nagkasundo na maglaro sa loob ng kwarto. Nangyari ang gambling pero ang malungkot wala tayong kinita. It’s a loss of potential revenue. 

We are persistent that PAGCOR should come to Boracay island. To regulate and curb the illegal gamblings here and at the same time extend their charity and community programs to our constituents. Maliban pa sa share na mapupunta sa LGU na ibibigay ng pagcor.

We are also fully cognizant of the fact that while Boracay remains to be a primary tourist destination, there are already other local and regional tourists destinations that likewise attract foreign tourists; hence, we believe that there is a need to encourage new activities and attractions in Boracay like legal forms of leisure and entertainment to enhance its appeal and attractiveness to foreign tourists and pull in tourist dollars, curb illegal gambling operations in Boracay and keep it ahead of its competition by allowing innovative measures such as “FOREIGN-PLAYERS-ONLY” Gaming Operations;

On the other hand, we are likewise cognizant of the sentiments of certain sectors in our community against the moral and social ills of gambling on the local community; hence, in order to address these concerns a committee hearing is set on March 17 at the SB session hall with PAGCOR representatives, church, business sector, and other interested parties.


We hope to agree on the following conditions that will be a win-win solution to all of us: 

a. PAGCOR rules and regulations pertaining to Junket Operations shall be strictly observed; 

b. A multi-sectoral monitoring body shall be constituted to see to it that rules and regulations are at all times observed and followed;

c. Whoever shall be the business partner of Pagcor in operating said gaming operations shall be involved in socio-civic activites this is apart from what the Municipality of Malay will receive as benefits from Pagcor under the law;

d. It is understood that such operations shall be experimental and that the number of areas where such operations shall be conducted should be limited according to viability and size of the market. The unregulated proliferation of gaming sites even if limited only to foreign players should not be allowed in order to maintain the image of Boracay as a wholesome tourist destination;

e. Pagcor is willing to adopt new measures and safeguards that may be suggested by the monitoring body from to time to time; 


(Note: Hon. Jonathan Cabrera is the chairman of the committee on Good Government and a member of the committee on Tourism, games and amusement.)

Malay council mulls terminals for tricycles in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Malay Aklan- The Malay municipal council is studying the possibility of designating a terminal for tricycles plying in this resort island.

Currently, the council faces difficulty in finding a location since most of the vacant lot in this resort island was owned by the state being represented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

To recall the Supreme Court had ruled out that Boracay Island is an agriculture reserved zone and all the parcels of land thereof are being owned by the state.

Because of this, the Malay council plans to have a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DENR to provide them a location as terminals for tricycles, which are the common medium of transport in Boracay.

Another option, the Malay council considers is to have an agreement among the existing land users.

In the absence of terminals, drivers park their tricycles anywhere in Boracay that causes an eye sore for tourists.

Apart from easing up of the traffic situation, the council believed that tariff rates can already be properly implemented if they there is a terminal.

Querol urges SWAT: Maintain Boracay peace and order

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, police regional director for Western Visayas, urged the newly-activated Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the province to give emphasis in maintaining peace and order, particularly in the Boracay resort island.

The police official was at the Aklan Provincial Police Office in Camp Pastor in Kalibo for the recently held graduation ceremony of the 24 newly-trained SWAT members.

Querol said he would like the focus to the entry of illegal drugs in the resort island because of the police intelligence report he received.
According to the intelligence report, illegal drugs will be flooded to the resort island in summer.

Querol said that although the police in the past have also been vigilant in monitoring the illegal drugs in Boracay, there are still some isolated cases of prohibited drug activities.

Because of the said intelligence report, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will conduct illegal drugs awareness campaign in the province on April 1.

While in Aklan, Querol also graced the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPAT) trainors' training.

SB: No more using of ‘Bora’

BORACAY — The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay urged people organizing events in this resort island not to use “Bora” in their themes.
If they do so, their event will not be permitted to push through, the SB said.

The SB recently passed a resolution seeking for the use of “Boracay” instead of “Bora” in the themes of events being conducted here.

More than a year ago, a group of stakeholders in this resort island started out a campaign against the tourists’ use of “Bora” in their slogans and publicity materials.
They said such practice implicates confusion, arguing that there is a place called “Bora Bora” in the Pacific.

It has been believed that “Bora” was used by young tourists attending beach parties here to refer to this resort island.

The SB said they will strengthen the resolution with a follow-up ordinance.

LTO to set up satellite office in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Malay Aklan - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is planning to set up a satellite office in this resort island to ensure that the clean air act is properly implemented.

This developed as concerns raised over hundreds of tricycles plying to this resort island daily. Tricycles emit chemicals coming from the engines believed to cause air pollutions here.

The move is currently being studied by the committee on transportation at the Malay council.

In the past, LTO personnel are coming to this resort island on an occasional basis to conduct a mobile smoke testing facility. The mobile testing could only accommodate 18 vehicles per day.

A satellite LTO office in this resort island could ensure monitoring of an accredited smoke testing facility. It will also assists in the smooth traffic flow here.

Currently, the traffic situation in this resort island is getting heavier with the continuous influx of tourists.

The Malay council said they are currently fast-tracking the needed resolutions for the setting up of a satellite facility to ensure air pollution issues are being properly addressed.

Filipino surfers triumph in 2011 Boracay Int'l Funboard Cup

http://elyvalendez.blogspot.com

FILIPINOS emerged champions in five out of seven categories of the 22nd Boracay International Funboard Cup held last week.

Reneric Moreno (Men's division), Rolando Francisco (Grand Master contest), Fele Kyanko(Women's), Gordon Gelito (Youth) and Manny Cabili (as the fastest rider with 58kph) were crowned in the event participated in by 100 surfers from 27 countries.

Fabrice Beaux of France/USA was hailed champion in Master's category and Germany's Simone Bartmann with 48kph speed was the fastest female rider.

We are not only good in boxing and are not only doing well in Football. This success shows that Filipinos' are great in water sports as well, despite the fact that, windsurfing is yet to be popularized in the country.

But of course the issue on "lack of support from the government" as our athletes commonly say, remains.

Maybe it's high time for the government to look more deeper at the potentials of Filipinos in sports, particularly in water sports. It is sad to know that it takes foreigners to say that we are the best in certain things, yet we don't invest on them.

Surfertoday.com describes the country, with it's more than 7,000 islands, as "one of the bestwindsurfing destinations in the world".

"The consistency of the wind (in Boracay) also puts (the island) in the epicenter of wind sports," it added.

This is something that the government should invest into, then bank on our growing popularity in sports and tourism. With proper training for athletes, good media mileage and better infrastructure facilities and services for the tourists, we could make great money out of sports.

Aside from Boracay, we also have Siargao and La Union that are known as great surfing sites. Lots are still undiscovered.

Take Palawan as an example. How I wish I could also see surfers playing with the winds and the waves at Sabang beach in Puerto Princesa City. Sabang, which serves as the take off point to the famousPuerto Princesa Underground River is a good place for water sports. If you've been there, you'll agree with me.

Palawan,  or the whole Philippines is beautiful, no doubt about that, but aside from the wonders of nature, we lack activities to offer our visitors. Adding water sports in the very short 'to do' list would be a big help for our tourism. I believe. We need to invest, really!

By the way, here's the list of winners in the 2011 Boracay International Funboard Cup.


Windsurfing

Grand Master
1. Rolando Francisco (PHI)
2. Robert Graf (SWI)

Master
1. Fabrice Beaux (FRA/USA)
2. Keiichi Kobayashi (GUM)
3. Typhoon (KOR)

Men
1. Reneric Moreno (PHI)
2. German Paz (PHI)
3. Gido Gelito (PHI)

Youth
1. Gordon Gelito (PHI)
2. Harold Madrigal (PHI)

Ladies
1. Fele Kyanko (PHI)
2. Tiina Jurisson (EST)
3. Simone Bartmann (GER)

Speed Men
1. Manny Cabili (PHI) – 58kph
2. Gilbert Gelito (PHI) – 57kph
3. Keichii Kobayashi (GUM) – 55kph

Speed Ladies
1. Simone Bartmann (GER) – 48kph
2. Tiina Jurisson (EST) – 46kph
3. Fele Kyanko (PHI) – 46kph