MANILA, Philippines — Cruise ships recently seen in Boracay will not affect the carrying capacity of the island, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
“What we are concerned about is their impact on anchorage. Upon checking, there is no need to worry,” DENR Undersecretary Sherwin Rigor told a recent press conference.
A study by the DENR’s Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau showed that Boracay’s daily carrying capacity is only 54,945, broken down into 19,215 tourists and 35,730 residents, migrants and workers.
The study also showed that the existing population on the island is almost 30 percent higher than its carrying capacity.
The Boracay interagency task force said authorities are limiting the number of tourists on the island to 6,405 a day.
Several residents and business owners are reportedly protesting the arrival of cruise ships on the island, claiming they only add to congestion without contributing to the local economy.
The interagency task force is finalizing the guidelines concerning cruise ships.