ILOILO CITY-The local government of Malay town in Aklan has pulled the plug on “LaBoracay” parties amid the looming shut down of Boracay Island.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the municipal government said its executive committee unanimously decided to stop the granting of special permits for big events for the duration of LaBoracay (April 27 to May 2).
“To promote general welfare, the municipal government will not approve permits for big events during the upcoming holidays (Holy Week and Labor Day),” it said.
The ban on big parties is “to support the rehabilitation of Boracay Island since big events (related to LaBoracay) generate a significant increase in both solid and water waste.”
Small organized events compliant with local ordinances will still be allowed, according the municipal government in its statement.
Laboracay
Some corporate sponsors have already withdrawn from major events on the island due to a possible shut down of all tourism-related activities in the next months.
“Laboracay” was first used as a term used for the long weekend vacation, including Labor Day in Boracay.
It is also used for other long weekend holidays on the island marked by a deluge of tourists and non-stop beach parties, concerts and other events.
Tourists, mostly the youth and young professionals, take advantage of up to five days without work due to holidays. They are drawn to the beach parties and other events sponsored by major companies.
About 60,000 tourists descended on Boracay Island for Laboracay in 2017.
Trash
Many residents, however, decried the tourists who left trash, including cigarette butts, plastic bottles, and beverage cans along the beach and into the water.
Some intoxicated tourists also urinated in the beach.
The Department of Tourism earlier called on the municipal government to do away with the events if it cannot ensure that the parties will not worsen the environmental situation of the island./lb