The best of the regions in ‘Wow Philippines’

I attended the meeting of the Western Visayas Historical and Cultural Council meeting at the NEDA Regional Office in Iloilo City last Friday.

Although the meeting focused primarily on the organization of the regional committees for the commemoration of Graciano Lopez Jaena’s 150th birth anniversary, the highlight of the meeting was the briefing on the forthcoming Best of the Regions "Wow Philippines" by Tourism Director Edwin Trompete.

I sat entranced by the series of activities outlined by Trompete that sort of touched Regional Development Council chair Sally Zaldivar-Perez. But among the questions that surfaced was how Guimaras would participate in the affair. But as pointed out by Trompete, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said that based on experience, people would scramble to buy Guimaras products if only to show their sympathy for the beleaguered province.

But shortly after, I learned about the uproar in Boracay about Presidential Proclamation No. 1064, which paves the way for the government to bid out Boracay lots even if they are already developed into resorts or business establishments.

Even Aklan Gov. Lito Marquez and Rep. Joeben Miraflores have taken up the cudgels for Boracay residents led by Waling-Waling Beach Resort owner Orlando Sacay.

But there was another important news. Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela said the environmental backlash of the oil spill in Guimaras makes it imperative for Congress to pass a legislative measure requiring seaports to have waste-handling facilities.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mar Roxas is also supporting the call of local officials to start siphoning off the remaining bunker fuel from Solar I.

Roxas echoed the sentiments of the officials of Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental that there is danger for as long as the oil remains at the bottom of the sea.

The danger that the bunker fuel from the sunken vessel may spill out is still there, especially in the event of earthquakes or movements under the sea.

The release of the remaining 1.9 million liters of bunker fuel could prove more devastating in their impact than what had already been caused by the oil spill so far, Roxas said.

Getting the remaining bunker fuel, he said, is safer than refloating the tanker because in the process, the vessel may crumble and trigger more oil spill.

Earlier, Western Visayas Regional PNP Director Geary Barias expressed to me his impatience on the slow pace of Petron’s cleanup drive and the delay in deciding what to do with the sunken fuel.

Roxas pointed out in Bacolod over the weekend that the vessen need to be hired and it is expensive. This means that we need to wait for weeks for the modern ship and equipment to arrive, he added.

The Coast Guard earlier announced that a well-equipped salvage ship had already been contracted in Norway. But it will need more time for Petron or its insurer to finalize the contract. The boat will also sail for a month, aside from the time that will be required to prepare for the operation.

Boracay furor

While Wow Philippines’ affair in Iloilo from Oct. 23 to 29 is being finalized, there’s an ongoing furor in Boracay over President Arroyo’s proclamation that declared more than half of the island-resort as "alienable and disposable."

On Saturday, some 1,500 residents and business and resort owners and their employees marched to the public plaza in Barangay Balabag and held a two-hour protest rally.

The protesters demanded the revocation of GMA’s Proclamation 1064 and signed a petition against it.

Rep. Miraflores and Malay Mayor Ciceron Cahaling joined the protesters.

Sacay disclosed that 58 business operators have signed the petition, asking the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the implementation of the proclamation and to eventually declare it null and void.

Named respondents were Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Angelo Reyes, the DENR regional technical director for lands, and the Provincial and Environment Officer of Aklan.

The Kalibo Regional Trial Court last July 19, 1999 recognized the rights of the petitioners to have their lands titled. It was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeals on Dec. 9, 2004, and is now pending before the SC. The government filed a petition for review.

Sacay claimed that they were not informed nor consulted before the issuance of the presidential proclamation.

A case in point was Sacay’s property, which he bought 20 years ago at only P150 per square meter. Now the price of lots along the beach area runs up to P45,000 per square meter.

DENR undersecretary for land management Manuel Gerochi said earlier that occupants of properties in Boracay will have priority rights in the bidding and selling of commercial and residential lots when these are made available to applicants.

They will have the right to equal the highest bid after all the bids are submitted and also have the right to be paid for any improvements and investments on the property in case the property is sold to another bidder.

But that is precisely the bone of contention. The present occupants will be forced to bid for the property they own and on which they have invested so much already, pointed out Sacay.

According to Sacay, what the government could not get through the courts, they are trying to grab through an executive order.

Worse, that move reportedly means goodbye to Boracay’s tourism development.

Well, until the high court solves the problem, that Wow Philippines presentation in Iloilo on Oct. 23-29 may have to suffer a major deficiency — the lack of tribute and come on for Boracay.

ADDENDA. Sen. Mar Roxas said Saturday that the Senate is now finalizing discussion on the proposed Biofuels Act, but pointed out that Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ralph Recto have concerns about giving too much incentives to firms producing biofuels in top of granting them a guaranteed market. They said Filipino sugarcane farmers may not be able to produce enough ethanol to meet the domestic demand. That means we will be forced to import ethanol and help the farmers of Brazil or Thailand. The Senate, he said, is waiting for reports from the Department of Energy on production needs for ethanol. Also from the Department of Agriculture… As I was writing this column, former SRA administrator Arsenio Yulo handed me this request. The Yulo Sang Bago (The Yulo’s of Bago) will hold a family reunion on Sept. 24 at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club. This will be the birth anniversary of former speaker Jose Yulo, the illustrious son of Sofronio Yulo. Those who wish to join the reunion may call Mrs. Maiet Yulo Tengco at tel. nos. 890-9321 or 0918-557486 for details.