ILOILO CITY—A group of Boracay business owners yesterday asked the Supreme Court to stop a controversial reclamation project being implemented at the jump-off point to the island-resort.
In a petition for the issuance of a writ of mandamus, the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) also asked the high court to issue a temporary environmental protection order (Tepo) against the project. The Tepo is similar to a temporary restraining order.
The petitioner asked that the reclamation project be suspended pending the conduct of an environmental impact assessment, and for the reclamation permit to be revoked.
“This project is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs,” said lawyer Joel Butuyan, legal counsel of BFI, in an interview in Manila.
The group cited a study of University of the Philippines marine biologists showing that the project could alter the current and flow of tides in the area, and might further erode portions of Boracay’s beach.
“Reclaiming that part of the island would only change the contours of the area, and discolor Boracay’s white sand beaches,” claimed Butuyan.
Named respondents were the Aklan provincial government, Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau.
The Aklan provincial government has been implementing the project since December last year. Some P260 million has been invested for the initial phase, and another P785 million is earmarked for the project’s succeeding phases.
It would expand the existing Caticlan jetty port facilities, reclaim coastal areas and lead to a building boom. Proponents said it would bring money and jobs.
While the provincial government said the project was on a 2.64-hectare land in Caticlan, the memorandum of agreement it signed with the PRA on May 17, 2010, covers a total of 40 ha.
Loubelle B. Cann, BFI president, said the group stands fast against the project because at stake is Boracay itself. “We cannot allow the destruction of the environment,” said Cann.