BEACH LOVERS: The white-sand beach of Boracay Island teems with tourists on Sunday after travel restrictions are relaxed, allowing visitors fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the island without undergoing a swab test. (Photo by JACK JARILLA)
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — A group of Boracay Island residents and business owners has welcomed the opposition of three presidential candidates to a controversial bill providing for the creation of the Boracay Island Development Authority (Bida), a corporate body that will manage the island-resort.
“We are elated [on] the pronouncement of presidential candidates that they are not supporting [the Bida bill],” One Boracay Movement said in a statement on Monday.
The group said the position of presidential candidates Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao against the Bida bill was justified because of the “unbridled power” of those that will lead it.
The three objected to the Bida bill during the presidential candidates’ forum of Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas on Friday, as it would infringe on the residents’ and local government’s right to self-determination.
One Boracay Movement and officials of Aklan province have opposed House Bill No. 9286 creating Bida, as the body would have the power to formulate the Boracay Action Plan, issue business licenses and building permits, and set a limit to real property taxes that the local government could collect.
—NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.
READ: Boracay folk on creation of Bida: Long overdue