BORACAY — More than 26,000 tourists visited this resort island during the Holy Week, figures from the Caticlan Jetty Port in Brgy. Caticlan, Malay, Aklan revealed.
The data were gathered only from Holy Monday until Good Friday, hence, the possibility of an unrecorded number of tourists, said Niven Maquirang, Caticlan Jetty Port administrator.
Tourists usually go through preregistration upon arriving at the jetty port.
However, those who were pre-booked in high-class hotels are unable to go through the process as they are being fetched by the hotel or resort service.
On April 18, Holy Monday, there were some 3,749 tourists that visited Boracay; April 19, 4,072; April 20, 6,204; April 21, 10,197; and April 22, 2,079.
The jetty port is yet to determine the tourist arrivals on April 23, Black Saturday, and April 24, Easter Sunday.
This year’s Holy Week tourist arrivals here are higher compared to those on the same period last year, which only reached 24,009, according to the Department of Tourism.
Meanwhile, Maquirang said the resort island was generally peaceful during the Holy Week.
“So far, the Task Force Boracay and other government enforcers did a very good job. The resort island peacefully celebrated the Holy Week,” he said.
The task force is composed of personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, among others.
Earlier, the local government of Malay thanked the tourists for their cooperation while vacationing in this resort island.
The local government unit also reported that amid the influx of tourists, it has successfully implemented its anti-littering and anti-smoking ordinance here.
It deployed local police auxiliaries and volunteers to ensure that tourists were informed about the local laws in Boracay.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Boracay priest urges tourists to observe Lent
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan– Fr. Maglore Placer, the parish priest of Balabag, Boracay is urging bars and restaurants here to observe Lent even just during the Good Friday.
Placer said that Malay has an ordinance declaring Good Friday as no noise day. Starting 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. of the next day, bars and restaurants are restricted from creating noise.
"We are also inviting everyone to join us in our via crucis which highlights procession at the beach. This is to showcase our Catholic tradition to the tourists," Fr. Placer said.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) considered Holy Week as the time when many people come to Boracay to enjoy a vacation.
The local police have already stepped up their security campaign to ensure peace and order.
Placer said that Malay has an ordinance declaring Good Friday as no noise day. Starting 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. of the next day, bars and restaurants are restricted from creating noise.
"We are also inviting everyone to join us in our via crucis which highlights procession at the beach. This is to showcase our Catholic tradition to the tourists," Fr. Placer said.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) considered Holy Week as the time when many people come to Boracay to enjoy a vacation.
The local police have already stepped up their security campaign to ensure peace and order.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Reef destruction, overfishing bug Boracay
RECTO VIDAL
BORACAY – Locals blame overfishing for the dwindling fish catch here. A rapid resource assessment and survey conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed this.
In this island, reef fish communities are made up of low-value, small sub-adult fishes. But they become expensive market commodities when sold fresh, and so they are being rapaciously targeted by local fishers.
Boracay is famed for its powdery white sand, but fishes are important tourist attractions here, too, especially in scuba diving sites in Punta Bunga and Bunugan.
The main purpose of the BFAR survey was to establish a baseline data on the status of marine resources, more specifically the coral reefs and other marine life in the surrounding areas, and to identify possible fishery reserve sites.
It identified anchovies, cods, siganids, mullets, snappers and groupers as among the commercially exploited species here.
The main ways of catching fish in the waters off the island are spear or darts and hook and line, but many are also using very fine nets.
On the other hand, the destruction of corals in certain parts of the beach may be due to dynamite fishing many years ago, the indiscriminate docking of ships that brought construction supplies to the island during the construction boom, destructive fishing practices and overfishing.
Corals provide shelter and breeding places for other ecologically important species in the reef. Thus, water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling and even reef gleaning and fishing in shallow waters must be undertaken with caution to avoid further disturbances in the ecosystem.
Based on the survey, the general condition of the reefs surrounding the island is poor.
“There is a need to protect and manage the remaining resources such as corals, fishes and other marine organisms observed in surrounding waters of the island and the adjacent islands and islets in Caticlan,” stressed Sandra Victoria Arcamo, chief of BFAR’s Fisheries Resource Management Division.
BFAR aquaculturists recommended that the coastal waters surrounding the island be declared a fishery reserve, including the islands and islets in Caticlan.
Corals have been used as building materials – coral blocks are found in many old churches and houses in many towns in Panay Island. Locally known as igang, coral blocks have also become landscaping materials in parks and homes. They are even sold along the highways from Caticlan to Iloilo City.
These are also used as embankments in fishponds. Agricultural lime is extracted from coral deposits by fining, pack in sacks and sold to sugarcane farmers to modify soil pH (acidity or basicity).
While collection activities offer additional income to the residents, the people have already recognized somehow the ecological value of these resources in the survival of the island and the tourism industry.
Bleached corals are washed out to the beach by strong currents and action of waves especially during typhoons. They are often collected as souvenir items. A local ordinance is enforced by the local government of Malay and the three barangays in the island are prohibiting collection.
Posters prohibiting collection and sale of protected and endangered corals are posted in the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources field offices and in some strategic places in the island.
The ceaseless beating of the waves brings about the pulverization of reefs, creating the fine white sands that Boracay is world-famous for.
Other resource management schemes (e.g. for coral reefs) which could improve the fisheries and the marine ecosystem in the area must also be considered.
Quarterly monitoring of coastal water quality should also be made part of the regular activities, being one of the critical components of the well-being of Boracay’s marine life.
BORACAY – Locals blame overfishing for the dwindling fish catch here. A rapid resource assessment and survey conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed this.
In this island, reef fish communities are made up of low-value, small sub-adult fishes. But they become expensive market commodities when sold fresh, and so they are being rapaciously targeted by local fishers.
Boracay is famed for its powdery white sand, but fishes are important tourist attractions here, too, especially in scuba diving sites in Punta Bunga and Bunugan.
The main purpose of the BFAR survey was to establish a baseline data on the status of marine resources, more specifically the coral reefs and other marine life in the surrounding areas, and to identify possible fishery reserve sites.
It identified anchovies, cods, siganids, mullets, snappers and groupers as among the commercially exploited species here.
The main ways of catching fish in the waters off the island are spear or darts and hook and line, but many are also using very fine nets.
On the other hand, the destruction of corals in certain parts of the beach may be due to dynamite fishing many years ago, the indiscriminate docking of ships that brought construction supplies to the island during the construction boom, destructive fishing practices and overfishing.
Corals provide shelter and breeding places for other ecologically important species in the reef. Thus, water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling and even reef gleaning and fishing in shallow waters must be undertaken with caution to avoid further disturbances in the ecosystem.
Based on the survey, the general condition of the reefs surrounding the island is poor.
“There is a need to protect and manage the remaining resources such as corals, fishes and other marine organisms observed in surrounding waters of the island and the adjacent islands and islets in Caticlan,” stressed Sandra Victoria Arcamo, chief of BFAR’s Fisheries Resource Management Division.
BFAR aquaculturists recommended that the coastal waters surrounding the island be declared a fishery reserve, including the islands and islets in Caticlan.
Corals have been used as building materials – coral blocks are found in many old churches and houses in many towns in Panay Island. Locally known as igang, coral blocks have also become landscaping materials in parks and homes. They are even sold along the highways from Caticlan to Iloilo City.
These are also used as embankments in fishponds. Agricultural lime is extracted from coral deposits by fining, pack in sacks and sold to sugarcane farmers to modify soil pH (acidity or basicity).
While collection activities offer additional income to the residents, the people have already recognized somehow the ecological value of these resources in the survival of the island and the tourism industry.
Bleached corals are washed out to the beach by strong currents and action of waves especially during typhoons. They are often collected as souvenir items. A local ordinance is enforced by the local government of Malay and the three barangays in the island are prohibiting collection.
Posters prohibiting collection and sale of protected and endangered corals are posted in the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources field offices and in some strategic places in the island.
The ceaseless beating of the waves brings about the pulverization of reefs, creating the fine white sands that Boracay is world-famous for.
Other resource management schemes (e.g. for coral reefs) which could improve the fisheries and the marine ecosystem in the area must also be considered.
Quarterly monitoring of coastal water quality should also be made part of the regular activities, being one of the critical components of the well-being of Boracay’s marine life.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Boracay motor bancas extend operation
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- Operation of motor bancas plying the Boracay-Caticlan route and vice-versa has been extended until 10 p.m. this Holy Week to accommodate the influx of tourists.
Niven Maquirang, Caticlan port administrator, however, said that they are still open to the possibility of further extending the operation, depending on the demand of tourists coming to and from Boracay.
During regular days, the operation of bancas is only until 8 p.m.
"The extension of the operation also depends on the weather condition. So far, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has forecasted a summer weather for Boracay this week," Maquirang said.
Maquirang also said that hotels in this resort island are already fully booked as tourists started coming in.
"Tourists who failed to have early hotel reservations may opt to stay in residential houses. There are many houses in Boracay that are open for staying overnight," he added.
The peak season is expected to end Monday next week.
Niven Maquirang, Caticlan port administrator, however, said that they are still open to the possibility of further extending the operation, depending on the demand of tourists coming to and from Boracay.
During regular days, the operation of bancas is only until 8 p.m.
"The extension of the operation also depends on the weather condition. So far, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has forecasted a summer weather for Boracay this week," Maquirang said.
Maquirang also said that hotels in this resort island are already fully booked as tourists started coming in.
"Tourists who failed to have early hotel reservations may opt to stay in residential houses. There are many houses in Boracay that are open for staying overnight," he added.
The peak season is expected to end Monday next week.
No foreign drug groups in Boracay - PDEA
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- There are no foreign drug groups operating in Boracay Island, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
PDEA Regional Director Paul Ledesma said that based on their monitoring, "shabu" and marijuana are the kinds of drugs that are being used in the island.
"Our recovery of shabu indicated that only Filipino drug users were in this resort island. Foreign tourists do not use shabu because they know it is only a fake industrial cleaner. What foreign tourists often use in their illegal drug trade is either cocaine or heroin. Our PDEA personnel are yet to recover heroin or cocaine in Boracay to determine if foreign drug groups have penetrated this resort island," Ledesma said.
The PDEA has deployed personnel in bars and disco pubs here to conduct intelligence gathering on the use of illegal drugs.
The PDEA is likewise monitoring the presence of Manila-based syndicates. Already, the PDEA has identified two local syndicates engaged in illegal drug activities.
Aside from the PDEA team, operatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, Civil Aviation and the Philippine National Police have been alerted over possible proliferation of illegal drugs in this resort island this Holy Week.
PDEA Regional Director Paul Ledesma said that based on their monitoring, "shabu" and marijuana are the kinds of drugs that are being used in the island.
"Our recovery of shabu indicated that only Filipino drug users were in this resort island. Foreign tourists do not use shabu because they know it is only a fake industrial cleaner. What foreign tourists often use in their illegal drug trade is either cocaine or heroin. Our PDEA personnel are yet to recover heroin or cocaine in Boracay to determine if foreign drug groups have penetrated this resort island," Ledesma said.
The PDEA has deployed personnel in bars and disco pubs here to conduct intelligence gathering on the use of illegal drugs.
The PDEA is likewise monitoring the presence of Manila-based syndicates. Already, the PDEA has identified two local syndicates engaged in illegal drug activities.
Aside from the PDEA team, operatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, Civil Aviation and the Philippine National Police have been alerted over possible proliferation of illegal drugs in this resort island this Holy Week.
Business sector divided over Caticlan reclamation
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan– Business groups here have clashing stands over the 2.6-hectare reclamation project in Barangay Caticlan, Malay Aklan.
Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) president Loubell Cann said that they have already asked President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to intervene and stop the project. The BFI is consistently opposing the reclamation project being undertaken by the Aklan provincial government.
The BFI opposition is supported by the local government of Malay through a resolution for such. The Malay local government is also planning to file an injunction against the reclamation project.
Meanwhile, Ariel Abriam, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay said that the board will convene this week to come out with an official stand on the reclamation project.
Recently, Abriam personally expressed favor over the project as it has been granted approval by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
Niven Maquirang of the Caticlan Jetty Port believed that the PCCI-Boracay will favor the reclamation project since the latter had commissioned the study undertaken by the University of the Philippines Marine Environmental Resource Protection.
"The BFI has earlier promised to undertake its own study. We are still waiting for it. It is good thing that the PCCI-Boracay has accomplished its own study on the reclamation project," said Maquirang.
The researchers of the study were being headed by Dr. Cesar Villanoy, Fernando Siringan, Olivia Cabrerra and Riovie Ramos.
According to the summary of their report, the sea flow across the Caticlan-Boracay channel is primarily tide-driven and Phase 1 of the reclamation project will not significantly affect the flow of the channel.
The direct impact will most likely be changed in erosion/deposition patterns along the Caticlan coast but unlikely to impact Boracay beaches; however, simulations show a lively significant impact for Phase 2 and 4.
The narrower channel in this area will most likely divert flow instead of flowing through channel and diverted flow may increase transport of suspended and dissolved matter of Boracay beaches.
Villanoy, however, denied earlier report endorsing the project, saying that he is merely reporting the outcome of the study.
Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) president Loubell Cann said that they have already asked President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to intervene and stop the project. The BFI is consistently opposing the reclamation project being undertaken by the Aklan provincial government.
The BFI opposition is supported by the local government of Malay through a resolution for such. The Malay local government is also planning to file an injunction against the reclamation project.
Meanwhile, Ariel Abriam, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay said that the board will convene this week to come out with an official stand on the reclamation project.
Recently, Abriam personally expressed favor over the project as it has been granted approval by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
Niven Maquirang of the Caticlan Jetty Port believed that the PCCI-Boracay will favor the reclamation project since the latter had commissioned the study undertaken by the University of the Philippines Marine Environmental Resource Protection.
"The BFI has earlier promised to undertake its own study. We are still waiting for it. It is good thing that the PCCI-Boracay has accomplished its own study on the reclamation project," said Maquirang.
The researchers of the study were being headed by Dr. Cesar Villanoy, Fernando Siringan, Olivia Cabrerra and Riovie Ramos.
According to the summary of their report, the sea flow across the Caticlan-Boracay channel is primarily tide-driven and Phase 1 of the reclamation project will not significantly affect the flow of the channel.
The direct impact will most likely be changed in erosion/deposition patterns along the Caticlan coast but unlikely to impact Boracay beaches; however, simulations show a lively significant impact for Phase 2 and 4.
The narrower channel in this area will most likely divert flow instead of flowing through channel and diverted flow may increase transport of suspended and dissolved matter of Boracay beaches.
Villanoy, however, denied earlier report endorsing the project, saying that he is merely reporting the outcome of the study.
Smart brings LTE mobile broadband to the Philippines
Vacationers at the beach paradise of Boracay, Aklan will get a taste of the world’s fastest mobile broadband technology starting this Holy Week, courtesy of cellular leader Smart Communications.
Called Long Term Evolution (LTE), this latest advance in mobile broadband technology can deliver download and upload speeds of up to 50 mbps. In the near future, LTE will be able to provide speeds of up 100 mbps.
Recognized as the most advanced fourth-generation (4G) mobile broadband technology, LTE will enable individual users to download a movie in minutes rather than hours, download songs in seconds and easily watch high-definition video on Youtube with no buffering.
Smart has fired up its LTE network in the country and is rolling it out. To give mobile phone users a chance to experience the new service, Smart has set up a booth near Pats and Bombom (Station 2) in Boracay where interested people can use laptops equipped with LTE dongles. They can also use their WiFi-enabled mobile phones, tablets or laptops in the WiFi hotzone at the Smart booth which is powered by LTE.
To enjoy LTE, subscribers would need LTE-capable devices. For the Boracay demo, SMART provides LTE plug-it devices. In the near future, LTE-capable phones will also be available.
Comparison of HSPA+ vs LTE
LTE is the fastest mobile broadband technology in the world with the fastest speeds and minimal latency
HSPA+
Theoretical Data Rates (DL): up to 42 Mbps
Latency: 50 microseconds
LTE
Theoretical Data Rates (DL): up to over 100 Mbps
Latency: 10 microseconds
For mobile broadband fans, this is definitely something to get excited about!
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