Cesspool

President Duterte has a way with words. You may or may not like his choice of words, but he surely delivers his message in the strongest possible terms. No ifs and buts, he is right: Boracay is a cesspool.

 A past tourism secretary would have been horrified if her president said that. Indeed, she even dipped her feet in waters off Boracay to show her confidence it is safe from microorganisms from human feces dumped into the waters.

 The current tourism secretary was happy the President made the statement. It created a news story that saved her from having to be publicly scolded or fired by the President for abuses of her department’s travel privileges. Lesser officials were not so lucky.

On the other hand, the tourism secretary may have been truly happy because she cannot, in conscience, sell Boracay to the world and risk having an epidemic among the visitors during her watch. I want to believe she wants to clean up Boracay, but isn’t confident she has all the powers needed to go against entrenched interests there.

Now she has the President on her side… and the secretaries of DENR and DILG as well. With the President thinking of shutting down Boracay unless it is cleaned and sewage no longer discharged to the sea, the impossible may yet happen.

If Boracay doesn’t get cleaned up with all the firepower now focused on doing that, then we are a hopeless nation with a government that’s largely useless. This cannot be a convenient ningas cogon thing to save the tourism secretary’s ass.

Boracay is world famous and is a principal dollar earner for our tourism industry. This long time problem should have been addressed decades ago. Past Presidents should be embarrassed for this failure.

Calling it a cesspool has reverberated in the world tourism industry and there are those who say Mr Duterte shouldn’t have said that. But it is a good thing he did. At least, President Duterte delivered the message that living like pigs is not Filipino and it is not acceptable.

After Boracay, there are other beautiful tourist sites that are also being spoiled by people with no sense of common good. Connecting to a sewer line leading to a treatment plant is basic and there is no valid excuse not to. I hope President Duterte succeeds.

Panglao island in Bohol also has the same sewage problem as Boracay. And with the new airport that can bring in more tourists to the island, they have to now do what is necessary. It is reported that up to 90 percent of the resorts on the island have no wastewater facilities.  Up to 70 percent do not even have a proper septic tank.

NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia, who is from Bohol, said unregulated development, lax law enforcement, and a surge in tourist arrivals caused Panglao’s current environmental degradation. 

The Environmental Management Bureau of DENR reported in January that the levels of fecal coliform on Alona Beach in Barangay Tawala in Panglao had exceeded DENR standards for recreational water. Test results showed that total fecal coliform in the area was 305.70 most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliters, way above the acceptable level of 100 MPN per 100 ml.

We have some of the best beaches in the world and it is a pity we take this God-given resource for granted by abusing nature’s ability to regenerate. We need to have a stronger sense of common good because living like pigs isn’t an option.

Hopefully, after Boracay and Panglao, they will look into El Nido and Coron in Palawan. It would be a tragic loss if we allow these awe-inspiring natural beauties to be damaged from reckless development.

Then very much closer to home… is Manila Bay. Our best tourism attractions here are Intramuros and the walk along Manila Bay that provides a good view of that majestic sunset. We are losing that too.

I came upon this post of someone who took a bicycle ride last Sunday on the Baywalk and this is what he reported:

“Last Sunday, I did an early morning bike run at the bay area from Folk Arts Theater down south to MOA and the Pagcor Entertainment City where the new massive casino hotels are and back. To pile up more kilometers, I thought of riding down from CCP to Quirino Grandstand and Manila Hotel via the Baywalk, the last remaining original stretch of Roxas Boulevard by Manila Bay that’s unobstructed by reclaimed land.

“The size of the early morning crowd of promenaders, joggers and bikers was simply mind-boggling. Not only was it extremely difficult to ride without running the risk of running someone over, you also had to deal with the reeking stench of urine and human excrement starting from in front of the Philippine Navy HQ and Manila Yacht Club all the way up to where the US Embassy is. I just had to abort and turn back.

“I was told by jogger friends that they also went through the same ordeal (and have vowed not to return) and even noticed that some of the statues there have been ripped off. This is extreme chaos, no less! Something has to be done to untangle this mess, restore order, cleanliness, safety and recreate the delightful experience at this (erstwhile?) world-famous attraction and destination.

“It is clear the LGU of Manila is failing to preserve and protect this tourism resource that carries the Filipino brand (Manila). Their (stage-managed?) coastal clean-up events are just for show!

“National government agencies have to step in now, not only to prevent continued abuse and further degradation, but to also discipline the irresponsible crowds that repeatedly attack this place like flies and maggots at a garbage dump. This is utterly shameful!”

Strange how some people still expect Mayor Erap to do something useful. Keeping the Baywalk clean is too much to ask.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco