The term of the inter-agency task force leading and overseeing the rehabilitation of the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay Aklan is set to end on June 30.
The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) officially turned over the responsibility to the Aklan Provincial Government and the Malay Municipal Government.
Chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the BIATF was created by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 to avert the island’s further deterioration.
The turnover ceremony was held on June 16 at Wetland 4, in Barangay Balabag, Boracay Island.
“Ang masasabi ko for Mr. President, mission accomplished. For the incoming president (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.), malinis na po ang Boracay at sana mapanatili po natin na ganito ang Boracay,” said acting DENR Secretary Jim Sampulna in a media interview.
“I will recommend na ipagpatuloy ng ating mahal na pangulong Bongbong Marcos dahil this is the crown jewel of the Philippines,” he added.
Sampulna assured that the DENR will continue to keep an eye on Boracay and all rehabilitation projects to be implemented on the island.
“Maglalagay ako dito ng apat na monitoring stations dito na equipped with modern devices katulad doon sa Manila Bay,” he said.
The DENR official is confident that the two local governments will protect and “not abandon” Boracay.
“Kilala ko po ang gobernador ng Aklan at ang mga anak niya. Naniniwala ako na they will not abandon Boracay. Kung may pagkukulang sila, kakalabitin namin,” said Sampulna.
The turnover ceremony was also attended by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Epimaco Densing, Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Christopher Moralesa, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, and DENR-6 regional executive director Livino Duran.IMT
Photo by Ian Paul Cordero/IMT NEWS
