(Following is an SOS e-mail forwarded to me by my friend, Leni Sutcliffe, who is a member of a birdwatching society, The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. It’s a distress call to save not only Boracay but also our future.)
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 05:56:12 -0800 (PST)
From: Lara Tajanlangit
Subject: Shangri-la’s Paved Paradise in BoracayLast Sunday, December 4, while my plane was passing over
Boracay, I noticed a large brown hole in the forest where the 3
species of flying foxes (the endangered and endemic Golden-
crowned Flying Fox, the threatened Giant Flying Fox and the common
Island Flying Fox) are roosting in the island.The site looked really bare from the plane. As soon as I landed
I contacted the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau
Representative in the island, the environmental impact assemment (EIA)
preparer of the Shang-rila Boracay Hotel and Renee Lorica, who has studied the bats in the island for a year, and is now based in Bacolod.The next day, the EIA preparer told me to talk to the Project
Director of Shangri-la Boracay so he can explain to me the
development plans and mitigating measures. I decided it would be
best if I went to the Shangri-la site with the DENR-EMB representative
so he can monitor the site as well.When we arrived at the site this morning the project
director showed us the development plans and explained the
mitigating measures for the clearing they were presently doing,
which included planting, landscaping, catchments for storm water
runoffs among others. I expressed my fears that siltation will
affect the coral reefs and that the future clearing and
construction noise might affect the bats roosting in the nearby
forest.I requested that they hire a wildlife biologist familiar with
the flying foxes to monitor the behavior and condition of the bat
roost during the 2 year construction period and to allow Renee
Lorica access to their site so she can pursue her study on the
bats’ roosting patterns to guide the development.I also expressed by concern for the endangered sea turtles
nesting on the beach since he also mentioned that they will be
barging in construction materials.He assured me Shangri-la has a team of tree doctors,
oceanographers and environmental consultants overlooking the
construction activities.After a long discussion, we finally went to the site. To my
dismay, the destruction even looked worse on land. At least half
of the mountain side was being buldozed ( around 2 hectares
according to the estimate of the DENR representative with me).
Only a handful of trees were left on the cleared slope. All the
second-growth limestone forest, small trees and plants that use to
cover the mountain side were uprooted and piled on one side to be
composted. Coconut trees were being chainsawed to be given to the
local community.I was afraid that the noise created by the chainsaw and
buldozers will affect the bats roosting nearby. I am also
concerned that with the heavy rains the past few days, siltation
will occur. I did not see any catchment basins installed to catch
stormwater.After we left the site, I expressed my disappointment to the
DENR representative for allowing this type of development to take
place; for allowing them to clear and quarry one of the last remaining forested mountains in the island; and for adding to the threats facing the already endangered flying foxes, that play a vital role in the regeneration of forests in Boracay and the neighboring northwest Panay peninsula.I know that we cannot rebuild the mountain side that has been
destroyed…what has been done has already been done. Shangri-la
has to ensure as that no further earthmoving and cutting be
allowed. It has already done enough damage. Replanting should be
done immediately to ensure that chances of siltation and
landslides be minimized. Heavy equipments should be banned in the
area — the noise generated can drive out the roosting bats and
wildife in the surrounding forest.Please tell Shangri-la Hotel they should review their development
plans and re-evaluate their priorities. What must come first ? A huge
lobby and landscaped gardens or the protection of the last
remaining forest of Boracay and endagered species? These are
important choices and the answer to this questions speaks of the
integrity and principles of the Shangri-la group. The world is changing, more tourists are willing to pay more for environmental
protection.Please let Shangri-la know that drastic environmental
destruction will just destroy the very attraction of the island —
its natural God-given beauty.They have a social responsibility to the local community, to the
island, their guests and to future generations.Lara
its very nice to know that associations such as the wild bird club of the philippines exist and that they are ever watchful of such cases as the one above. more power to you, miss tajanlangit and miss sutcliffe! and also to ellen for posting the letter in her column!
now, forgive me for being sarcastic here, but, what in the heck does shangrila needs oceanographers for? what they probably need to hire are marine biologists or conservation biologists as their consultants, not oceanographers. or are they more interested on the effect of the construction on climate change than on the flora and fauna in the island?
also,i’m wondering why such large construction in boracay is still being allowed. i would have thought that after the e coli incident a few years back, the local government and the DENR RFU6 have learned the dangers of overdevelopment, and that the carrying capacity of the island’s ecosystem is already nearing, if not past, its limit. it is quite surprising, too, that construction was allowed by DENR on an area which is habitat, or near the habitat of 3 endangered/threatened species. what happened to the NIPAS Act??? forgotten? or being conveniently forgotten?
This seems to be the day that I fear would finally come and that is, the total urbanization of Boracay, a vestige of pristine nature and calmness. Soon, the beach would be overshadowed by buildings and establishments that caters to otherworldly pleasures, and not that of the enjoyment of bathing in cool water. This may just end the paradise-like allure of the beach that made our country mostly attractive to nature-seekers from around the world.
Ellen,
This is off topic but whatever happened to the Subic gang rape issue?
Is it already dead in the waters? Have the 5 or 6 accused US servicemen flown the coop like wild birds?
Last thing I read about was when DOJ chief of a moron Gonzales was bulliying the alleged victim.
Has Gonzales done anything at all about the ‘recanting’?
Thanks
Preliminary hearings are being conducted to determine if there’s a prima facie evidence against the accused. Daniel Smith, the one who was identified as having sex with the victim, has submitted an affidavit that said yes, he had sex with the accuser, but it was consensual. It would be her word against the word of the six plus the driver.
I’ve been to Boracay three times. The location is wonderful.It is breathtaking but sad to say, the island is being “prostituted”.
The first time friends and I went there was in 1995 when it was still a virtual paradise. The children and us adults too just loved the place.
The last time my family and I went was in 2000 when constructions had been started but I’ve learned were stalled since. (That was when my 10-year old daughter at the time caught dengue and was hospitalized for 3 weeks in Manila.) In 5 years, Boracay had deteriorated. Water was bad. Litter abound. Karaoke lounges for the foreign and local tryists and ‘bachelors’ abound.
I’ve spent many pleasurable holidays in most Asian beach resorts these last 30 years. Boracay could have been one of the best island paradises the region ever had. I suspect our government’s and the locals’ absence of respect for nature and couple that with an inherent lack of a maintenance culture are what’s going to drive Boracay out of the Asian “club” of paradise resorts.
Last year, for our summer holidays, we went instead to Malaysia and spent wonderful and postcard picture holidays in Penang, Langkawi and Borneo.
Together with some other British friends, my family and I will go to Malaysia again in 2006 and skip the Philippines altogether because we feel we cannot take risks for our children – and that is the sad truth, the Philippines is terribly risky.
I, of course, miss the pristine Boracay of the olden days when there was no electricity and there were just a few cottages. Before the Europeans discovered it, you could take a walk in the morning and in the afternoon re-trace your footprints.
I was there last year and yes, it’s too crowded. The development is unregulated.
But it has developed a bohemian subculture which could not be found in other resort destinations.I find it fascinating.
As far as natural beauty is concerned, I think Boracay is world class. It’s a pity that, that is not being taken care of.
And the proliferation of drugs and prostitution is alarming.
Boracay is crowded. The government should impose a moratorium on new constructions. I find the Shangrila Boracay Hotel huge. It’s out of place in the island.
Boracay..dyan ako nag honey moon……
May nag sabi sakin na dapat daw gayahin natin ang Indonesia isa lang ang pinapasikat na beach yung “Bali”
Maganda sana pakinggan at mukhang tama sa unang dinig
pero di pwede dito sa Pinas
madami masyado
from North to South…
pero kung budget at maintenance ang paguusapan maari ngang may punto ang kausap kong yon….
Ellen,
The people and officials of Boracay must enforce strict rules and stringent guidelines for visiting foreigners. A bona-fide European visitor/tourist would be happy to go back to Boracay again and again if the locals themselves know how to protect the island. Unless they, the islanders learn to respect their own habitat, they will only attract “bad” European tourists who have no qualms about leaving the island once they’re done with it.
How can one expect visiting foreigners to respect Boracay if the island’s own inhabitants and the country’s own government seem to have little respect for it?
Protect our environment!