More groups nix House’s Boracay GOCC plan
MORE tourism stakeholders and island associations have come forward to signal their opposition to the creation of the Boracay Island Development Association (Bida) as a powerful government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC), as provided in a yet-unnumbered substitute bill at the House of Representatives.
In a position paper, 17 multisectoral groups with nearly 20,000 members, along with barangay captains of Yapak, Manoc-manoc and Balabag in Malay, Aklan, said, “We are one in our strong opposition to Bida as a GOCC, clothed with powers and functions, which duplicate, and overlap with, those already vested upon and exercised by the national government’s line and attached agencies and violate the policy of devolution and decentralization, and repugnant to the very essence of federalism advocated and espoused by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself.”
The groups added they were in “ardent opposition” to the Bida GOCC “with powers and functions which encroach upon and divest
local government units of their constitutionally granted (1987 Philippine Constitution) local autonomy and law-mandated powers and functions, rights and prerogatives,” as provided under Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991).
In an interview with the Businessmirror, Virgilio Sacdalan, president of the Compliant Association of Boracay, one of the groups which signed the position paper, said, “We drew up this position paper after carefully studying and discussing the proposed substitute bill on Bida with the heads and members of associations of the various stakeholder groups on the island.”
He added, a signature campaign had been launched involving 17 barangays and 20 organization members and employees before signing then sending the position paper to Duterte, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, House Speaker Lord Allan Q. Velasco and members of Congress.
Conspicuously absent among the signatories, however, were heads of the pioneering Boracay Foundation Inc. and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-boracay, signaling a possible rift among the stakeholders on the issue that carves the future path of the island.
Continued operation of BIATF eyed
WHAT the groups opposing the Bida GOCC endorsed instead was the continued operation of the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force (BIATF) to oversee the rehabilitation of the island, “or in the alternative, the creation by law of a nationally empowered body with the same or similar mandate and limitation as a policy-making and regulatory authority like BIATF, with strengthened integration of national agencies, expanded local participation, and recognition of vested rights.” The BIATF’S term is supposed to end in May 2021.
The groups underscored that they were “not alone” in disagreeing with the proposed Boracay GOCC, citing government agencies like the Departments of Finance, Interior and Local Government, and Budget Management; as well as political organizations and local government representatives such as the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the provincial government of Aklan and its provincial board, the municipal government and the municipal council, Aklan House representatives, among others.
(See, “Dominguez nixes proposed Boracay authority’s roles,” in the Businessmirror, March 2, 2021.)
The multisectoral groups stress they support Duterte’s wish to safeguard the environment and his vision of returning the island “to its former glory.” They add they would continue partnering with national and local governments to “promote and accelerate the sustainable development and balanced growth of Boracay Island.”
The position paper was also signed by the Boracay Island Travel Agencies/tour Operators Association; Boracay Windsport Association; Boracay Private Clinic Sectoral Group; Caticlan Boracay Transport Multipurpose Cooperative; Malay Fisherfolk Seaweed Planters Association; Boracay Women’s Cooperative; Natives of Boracay and Business Stakeholders Inc.; Malay Boracay Vendors, Peddlers, Masseurs, Manicurists, and Hair Braiders Association Inc.; Boracay Tumandok Indigenous Cultural Communities Indigenous Peoples Malay Aklan Inc.; Boracay Muslim Association; Boracay Island Hopping Adventure MPC; Boracay Photographers Association Inc.; Association of Standup Paddle Boracay Inc.; Boracay Watersport Association Inc.; Boracaynons Samahang Mangingisda Inc; and the Aquanaut Diving Association Inc.