‘Promised land’ eludes Filipino tribe in Boracay

Boracay Island- A TRIBAL group on the island of Boracay, central Philippines, continues to wait for land promised to them by the government.

“We expect a formal turnover of the (land) title,” said Sister Victoria Ustan of theMissionaries of Charity, who has been helping the Ati tribe claim their ancestral land.

The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) announced on Aug. 3 that that a Certificate of Ancestral Domain has been issued to the Ati tribe, 10 years after they filed a petition to claim land in the village of Manoc-Manoc on Boracay island.

Sister Ustan said the Atis were happy upon hearing the good news but they are now planning to write a letter to President Benigno Aquino III because the land title has not been released.

“If we are just near Manila we would have visited the NCIP office to ask about the delay,” said Ati chieftain Delsa Justo.

Since 2000, the Atis, who number about 2,000, have been legally claiming ownership over Boracay Island, which they regard as their ancestral domain. The island has become a famous tourist destination for its white sands and scenic sunset.

The Supreme Court earlier declared Boracay Island a government land, affirming a presidential proclamation that classifies more than half of the island as “disposable.”

“It is difficult to teach the Atis values about life without them having permanent land,” Sister Ustan added.(www.ucanews.com)

Fire injures 2, destroys 25 structures

BY BAM LUCES

BORACAY – A resident and a fireman were injured in a fire in Sitio Ambolong, Brgy. Manoc-Manoc (Station 3) here on Wednesday around 9:30 p.m.

About 25 residential and mix-occupancy structures made of light materials were burned to ashes, according to PO1 Cyrus Parce, desk officer of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office (BSTPO).

Fire Officer 3 Franklin Arubang of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here said, “The cause of conflagration was not yet determined… it is still under investigation.
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“Evidences like ashes and electrical wiring from the house where the fire allegedly started were sent to the Arson Laboratory in BFP Manila for verification and laboratory analysis,” he added.

Parce said they received a call about the fire around 9:20 p.m.

He said they immediately informed the BFP about the situation.

Volunteer residents and personnel from the Boracay Sewerage System helped the BFP firefighters put out the fire.

The fire was totally put out around 11 p.m.

Eva Lumbo, one of the fire victims, said she woke up when the fire was already reaching their house.

“We did not have enough time to safeguard our belongings. My husband secured nothing but our TV. The fire was so big already… we just ran to the main road and saved ourselves,” Lumbo said.

She said their family slept early because earlier, the electrical power was out.

The damages were estimated to be P1.8 million.

Malay council urges TIEZA to complete Boracay drainage project

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan - The Malay Council, which has jurisdiction in this resort island, has asked the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to revive and complete its pending storm drainage project here.

Malay Councilor Jonathan Cabrerra, who filed a resolution in the council seeking for the completion of the project, said the TIEZA has already started constructing the drainage project, but that it has been suspended due to the problem with the contractor.

"The project construction has been started three years ago. The rainy season is coming so Boracay Island needs a functional drainage project by now," said Cabrera.

The TIEZA is formerly known as the Philippine Tourism Authority.

During rainy season, some lowland areas in Boracay island experience flooding due to the absence of drainage system.

Last September, Atty. Edgar Bocar representing the TIEZA said they are planning to resume the project by November this year.

Comelec to be strict in enforcing liquor ban in Boracay and the rest of Aklan

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned both resort owners and bars in this resort island and the whole of the province that they will be strict in implementing the liquor ban on October 24 if they have not applied for exemption.

Records from the poll body indicated that only the Shangrila Resort and Boracay Regency have applied so far.

Failure of the owner to apply will result in penalization if the establishment will continue to sell liquor despite the ban.

The Comelec also reported that three gun ban violators were nabbed since they implemented the gun ban in time for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 25.

Some 5,232 positions have to be filled up by the candidates both in the barangay and SK posts.

Both the Comelec and the Aklan Provincial Police Office are ensuring continued peace and order in the province.

Security improved at Caticlan Jetty Port

BORACAY Island, Aklan - The Caticlan Jetty Port has been improved with the installation of an x-ray machine as additional security feature.

Port administrator Niven Maquirang said that the purchase of a new machine was funded by the P6-million appropriation coming from the revenue generated by the port. The increased collection is attributed to the rise in the numbers of tourists visiting the resort island of Boracay.

"After bidding, we were only able to purchase the machine for P4.2 million excluding some needed gadgets. We could say that we do have a savings in the budget of our department," said Maquirang.

The administration of both the Caticlan and Cagban Jetty Ports here is under the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) of the Aklan provincial government.

Revenue collections report of the jetty port said that from January to August this year, they had generated P5.219 million from the terminal collections of P75 each tourists passing the port.

Aside from the x-ray machine, the jetty port has also placed a turnstile facility to secure tourists and passengers arriving in Boracay through the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

"We will still be installing more security features for Boracay tourists in the days to come," said Maquirang.

The Aklan provincial government expects a surge of tourists arriving beginning this semestral break that will continue until summer of next year.

Rugby:Boracay to host International Beach Rugby Festival

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- This resort island will host this year's edition of the International Beach Rugby Festival that will kick off Oct. 16 at the beach front of the Pearl of Pacific Resort.

Organizers said that this tournament will see men rugby teams and ladies touchball teams from all over Asia come together for the festival's inaugural staging.

The awarding ceremony will be held in the Cocomangas Shooters Bar October 17. Large crowd of tourists are expected to attend.

The organizers said that they have selected this resort island as the perfect location for this outdoor sport because of its gorgeous tropical weather, fine white sand and the deep blue sea making it the ideal spot. Said tournament attracts teams from all around the world and features both men's five-a-side games and women's touch rugby competitions.

Earlier, the Aklan Provincial Tourism Council said that they are welcoming the holding of international competitions in this resort island as it continuously boosts the tourism allure of Boracay.

Media not part of the TWG

Boracay Island- Media is not invited by the Technical Working Group (TWG) on hostage taking crises to participate to their fourthcoming meeting with the 17 mayors of Aklan on October 22.

The media’s role are considered essential in the TWG but because of the indifference of the Aklan provincial government with the Aklan media. Imagine a hostage taking scenario in Boracay Island with the unmanaged media.

The media have not been properly informed about their role on the crises management module being worked upon by the TWG.

Senior Supt. Epifanio Bragais, provincial police director said the meeting will tackle the mayors’ role during hostage-taking scenarios.

Bragais said the media can only cover the said event but their participation in the proceeding is not important.

Considered as the first in the country, the meeting will be initiated by the provincial government of Aklan and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The province’s TWG was created after the hostage-taking incident in Manila on August 23 where eight Hong Kong tourists died.

According to Bragais, they do not want the same to happen in the province, especially in this resort island.

The Philippine Coast Guard, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Provincial Engineers Office, among other agencies, comprise the TWG.

The PNP hopes all the mayors will attend to the meeting.

Earlier, Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao Jr., Police Regional Office 6 director, said the PNP has made Boracay Island a priority area for implementing peace and order measures after the Manila hostage incident.