By Johnny Dayang
RESIDENTS of Malay, Aklan, of which world-class tourist destination Boracay forms a part, may never have anticipated their current woes when they went all out for President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 polls.
Bearing the brunt of Boracay’s chaos is incumbent Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, although its environmental degradation did now happen during his time. His predecessors, should be made to account for the problems which led the President to call Boracay a cesspool.
Mayor Cawaling, for sure, was not responsible for the delay in setting up an efficient sewerage system in the island.
The responsibility belongs to the Ayala-funded Boracay Island Water Company, Inc. (BIWC) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), formerly the Philippine Tourism Authority.
Hardly mentioned in recent weeks is Mayor Cawaling’s involvement in Boracay’s planned closure, even as he has been competently addressing the island’s problems, and preparing Malay’s resources to meet contingencies expected to arise.
Largely ignored too is Cawaling’s sincere concern about the problems confronting the displaced workers. He is against declaring a state of calamity in the island, but said he trusts the wisdom of the national government, and has openly been urging his constituents – the most affected sector – to cooperate with the plans and direction of the President.
The rush to “save” Boracay goes beyond simple rehabilitation. For many Malay residents, their mayor deserves to play a major role in bringing back the island’s luster, since he is their leader who has a more comprehensive appreciation of what happens in his turf.
The inconsistent pronouncements statements by both national agencies and Malacañang statements have only added confusion about the planned rehabilitation. If, indeed, the restoration objective is to bring back Boracay’s near-pristine condition, why penalize Malay?
Under the principle of sound LGU governance, the town mayor should be an indispensable player in the Boracay restoration program. Not only does he have first-hand information about his turf, he can also more effectively explain to his constituents so they can better connect and appreciate Malacañang’s initiatives.
Indeed, the Malay mayor should have been part of the entire Boracay rehabilitation process from day one.
Tomorrow, Mayor Cawaling will appear at the Kapihan sa Aklan, a weekly program under the auspices of the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines and the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc.
