In compliance to EO 53, the National Economic and Development Authority led the KRA 7 Working Group of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) responsible for crafting the Boracay Action Plan (BAP). The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force was created pursuant to Executive Order No. 53 to properly and effectively rehabilitate Boracay Island to ensure its sustainable development while pursuing its economic and tourism activities.
The BAP is the blueprint for carrying out programs and projects necessary for the continued rehabilitation and development of Boracay Island to be implemented soon after its six-month temporary closure which started in April 26, 2018.
The first draft of the BAP was submitted by NEDA to the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, chair of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, on August 9, 2018 as prescribed by the EO. Vetting and consultations were undertaken thereafter to finalize the commitments of the national government agencies thru programs, projects and activities, as well as, firm up the investment requirements for financing by source(s).
The NEDA Region VI Office was called upon to lead the groundwork and consultations among relevant agencies, LGUs, private sector groups, non-government organizations and other stakeholders to ensure that their ideas and concerns are taken into account in the planning process. The NEDA-CO Regional Development Office, on the other hand, led in the refinement of the investment program in collaboration with concerned agency central offices.
Meetings were called by NEDA-VI among relevant agencies and other stakeholders especially at the grassroots level in order to identify the root cause of problems and to identify concrete measures to resolve these. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted and experts were invited to provide inputs in formulating the action plan based on an earlier defined development framework.
The BAP development framework defines the long-term societal goal; that is having safer, adaptive and disaster-resilient Filipino communities that are protected from risks and can cope with and recover quickly from unfortunate events. The vision for Boracay Island encapsulates the aspiration of the stakeholders to have a secure and globally-competitive world class tourism destination with a vibrant, productive and climate-resilient economy geared to promote inclusive growth anchored on the sustainable development of its natural resources.
The following are the desired outcomes for the thematic areas:
Theme 1- National and local laws, regulations and policies applicable to Boracay Island are harmonized and effectively and justly implemented by competent and capable enforcement officers;
Theme 2- Pollution-free Boracay Island enjoyed by local government units, communities and island visitors who are very conscious and disciplined in pursuing the development of the local economy given the Island’s fragile environment;
Theme 3- Boracay Island ecosystems and environmental resources efficiently managed, sustainably developed and carefully monitored;
Theme 4a- Reliable, adequate, affordable and resilient infrastructure facilities and utilities put in place and are compliant with global standards;
Theme 4b – Responsive social services provided; and,
Theme 4c – Inclusive and socially equitable economic and other livelihood and tourism opportunities sustainably promoted and developed.
The Boracay Action Plan includes discussions of the history and situation of the island before the closure, problems and challenges, objectives, targets and strategic interventions. It includes an investment program that lists the PPAs proposed for implementation to be funded either through general appropriations of agencies, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, development partners (ODA), or through public-private partnership arrangements.
The Plan and its investment program will be further refined to take into account the results of the carrying capacity study being undertaken by consultants of DENR and the post-disaster needs assessment of the Office of Civil defense which have yet to be submitted.
The Boracay Action Plan should serve as a benchmark for planning among LGUs with tourism attractions in other parts of the country. (DRD)
