Cesspool no more

The White Beach is clean and white again, and the cesspool is almost completely cleaned up. Boracay Island is on track to reopen to tourists as scheduled on Oct. 26, according to environment officials, with some reports saying the date could even be moved up.

An earlier opening would naturally be welcomed by those who have lost jobs, livelihoods and profits as a result of the unprecedented shutdown of an entire island. The six-month shutdown, which began on April 26, displaced approximately 35,000 workers and is estimated to cost about P1.9 billion in economic losses.

After the cleanup period is over, however, the challenge is to sustain it. The island is expected to continue drawing an increasing number of both local and foreign visitors, and the temptation to overdevelop the island will persist. It will require honest and competent management to prevent the abuse of the island’s environment.

It will also require the full cooperation of local residents and those doing business on the island. Under new rules, all establishments with at least 50 rooms are now required to have their own sewage treatment plants. Smaller establishments can pool their resources for clustered STPs. Establishments without STPs can be shut down.

The water contamination around the island is no longer critical, according to environment officials. But several of the individuals who allowed Boracay to reach a state of calamity, as declared by President Duterte, still have supervision over various aspects of life on the island. The national government may have to set up a special body to oversee environmental protection and sustainable tourism in Boracay.

With the cleanup winding down, authorities can also focus on other tourist destinations that are threatened by indiscriminate development, with little regard for the environment. There are several other such sites around the country, and they are also in a state of calamity or rapidly getting there.