BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- The Department of Tourism (DoT) has poured in P3.6 million for environmental and health projects on Boracay Island.

Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano handed checks to two Boracay-based civic organizations for a campaign against dengue fever and the island's residual waste management program.

Durano said the focus should be on the prevention of environmental and health problems considering the fragile environmental situation of the island.

Addressing these concerns should not be left only to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Health, he said.

"The DOT is biggest stakeholder of the island," said Durano during a ceremony and signing of the memorandum of agreement with the Boracay Chamber of Commerce Inc. (BCCI) and the Rotary Club of Boracay.

Durano turned over a check for P1.85 million to the BCCI for the residual waste management program.

The fund will be used to purchase equipment to turn residual waste from the material recovery facilities of the three villages on the island into byproducts like hollow blocks and paper blocks.

It will also be used to train the workers in this facility, for monitoring, and a massive information campaign for residents and tourists.

BCCI president Charles Uy said the residual waste management program would help achieve the "zero waste" goal for the island. At present, residual wastes are transported to Caticlan on the mainland to a temporary dumpsite.

Aside from helping protect the environment, the project would provide additional livelihood for Boracay residents, Uy said.

Durano also gave a P1.75-million check to the Rotary Club of Boracay for a one-year campaign against dengue fever. The project was launched after a rise in dengue cases in Aklan during the rainy months in 2007.

Dr. Ma. Christina Teotico, the club's president, said while dengue could not be stopped totally, it could be controlled through an education campaign focusing on its prevention.

The program will involve the training of personnel who will monitor the cases, implementation of preventive measures and house-to-house information campaign, and the purchase of mosquito catchers and spraying of non-hazardous biological treatment.

Government agencies have given priority to environmental and health concerns with the increase of tourist arrivals on the island.

In 2007, 596,707 tourists went to Boracay, 208,870 foreign and 359,433 domestic. The tourism industry poured in P10.969 billion to the economy.

Amid calls for tighter control on development projects in Boracay, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued in January 2007 Executive Order 706 mandating the tourism secretary to exercise administrative control over the island through the Philippine Tourism Authority.