Bora is back in business

and has not been resumed since. Maybe Sec. Manny Bonoan would want to prioritize this?

One other nice development was the widening of the beach frontage in Station 1 particularly, the width of which is less than those of Stations 2 and 3.

As a result, the violating hotels and resorts have had to either close down and be demolished, or their properties sliced in half to conform to the easement regulations.

Another is that trikes and regulated public transport facilities in the island are electrically operated, thereby lessening the smoke-belching.

tion X-ray, an obvious redundancy, something I likewise experienced in NAIA 1 when I flew to Taipei last March.

Caticlan’s arrival and departure areas were likewise a cinch, although I understand a new and bigger terminal is being constructed.

Our return trip, without the runway traffic in Caticlan, arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

Tourists have started flocking to the white powdery sands of Bora.

Our inbound PAL plane was full, with what I would estimate to be 80 percent domestic travelers and 20 percent foreign visitors, mostly Korean and Europeans. At the Movenpick where we stayed, the ratio is about 60 percent foreign visitors and less domestic travelers, although many of these were really balikbayans and therefore counted as foreigners by the DOT and immigration if they already took foreign citizenship.

It was my first time to stay at the Movenpick, now managed very professionally by France’s Accor Group which also operates Sofitel, Mercure, Novotel, Ibis and other hotel brands known worldwide for efficiency and high standards.

“THE Philippines might be a small nation, but our country has a coast guard with a big heart that is willing to serve the Filipino people and an overwhelming loyalty and bravery to protect the republic.”

This was the bold statement that Philippine Coast Guard Commander Julio Colarina made on the cutting-off maneuver instigated by a China Coast Guard ship against one of our PCG vessels just a day after President Ferdinand

“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. hosted Chinese

Foreign Minister Qin Gang aimed to defuse ongoing tensions.

Well, so much for that. This is the umpteenth time that Beijing has committed these bullying tactics and is increasing in frequency with more threatening language.

The PCG vessels BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo was on patrol in the South China Sea carrying journalists from several media organizations as they were approaching the Second Thomas Shoal, where Philippine Marines are stationed.

CCG vessel 5201 reportedly made dangerous maneuvers that would have resulted in collision hadn’t it been for the quick reaction of the PCG crew.

Malapascua commanding officer Rodel Hernandez described the encounter as a “David and Goliath” incident against a CCG ship that was more than twice its size.

On Saturday, the PCG reported more than 100 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels, a People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette, and two CCG vessels again doing their swarming tactics at Whitsun Reef which is well inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The PCG told to the Chinese intruders to leave but was again ignored.

Senators have expressed their outrage

As our PCG is now implementing a firm and active stance to protect our sovereign rights, it looks like these close encounters with the CCG and Chinese Maritime Militia are going to be a more daily occurrence and therefore emphasizes the urgency to modernize our defense capabilities that the government must accelerate both in military hardware, upgraded proficiencies, and deeper alliances with like-minded states.

President Marcos Jr. has consistently maintained his administration will maintain a strategic balancing act in pursuing an independent foreign policy that focuses on cooperation with likeminded friends while being guided by Filipino people’s interests.

Unfortunately, we are not getting any cooperative reciprocity to de-escalate but instead we are getting more intimidation and threats in our maritime territories.

This is what we get for former President Duterte’s pivot to China which allowed six years of incursions and unprecedented Chinese militarization in the WPS and South China Sea wanton destruction of marine resources which will have long term effects to the region’s food security.

Also participating as observers were Australia with approximately 100 personnel and Japan.

These are three among many likeminded states that are now gravitating into an Indo-Pacific alliance to uphold the rule of law in these international waters which are critical maritime routes that must be kept open.

Any disruption will create a crisis to the global economy that is already struggling with the effects of the Ukraine war.

It’s really about time the Philippines does its own pushing back against Chinese bullying.

In strong show of force, the recent Balikatan exercises was our largest joint war games with our only military ally, the United States.

Images on television about huge hotels with multi-million capital expenditures disgorging their detritus into the beach through pipes concealed beneath the sand justified the president’s decision to close the island.

DPWH and TIEZA were thus able to first, widen the road traversing the southern part in Manoc-Manoc to Station 1 in the north, and retro-fit the sewage pipes from the white beach area to the sludge treatment facility, and then to Bulabog where the treated water, now clean, was emptied far from the shoreline.

One particular improvement I noticed was the road widening into two lanes which included the expropriation of a stubborn landowner’s protruding property in the narrow Station 1 area.

For far too long, the Malay local government was unable to get the landowner to give way to the road widening.

The road construction stops though as one reaches the uphill part leading to Station Zero where hotels like Crimson, Movenpick and Shangri-la are located.

Residents say that the construction stopped during the COVID lockdowns

I still hate the fact that the local government allowed the building of minimalls with concrete superstructures which house the usual brands you see all over the country. Had Boracay’s development been designed properly with a master plan when Pres. Cory took over, at a time when the island was kept pristine because it was the “private” playground of Pres. Marcos Sr. and his entitled friends, and not left to the local government which was interested only in hefty incomes from permits and property taxes, Boracay could have been such a beautiful community with a common architectural theme evocative of tropical island life.

But, no use crying over the undone.

We should thank Pres. FVR and Pres. Estrada for infrastructure improvements that increased the carrying capacity of the island and provided fresh water from the Nabas River in mainland Aklan, the visitor’s processing center, even the conversion of Kalibo’s airport into an international terminal with a lengthened runway. And Pres. GMA for the bulldozing of a hill that prevented Caticlan from having a longer runway that has made visiting Boracay a faster and more convenient adventure, thanks to Ramon Ang’s PPP.

I also noticed the improvement in NAIA’s Terminal 2 where we boarded our PAL flight to Boracay on time. Procedures were much faster, especially with the removal of the luggage pre-inspec- ment, the two leaders will “review opportunities to deepen economic cooperation and promote inclusive prosperity, expand our nations’ special people-to-people ties, invest in the clean energy transition and the fight against climate change, and ensure respect for human rights.

This was also the first time that a combined joint littoral-live fire drill was conducted wherein some 1,400 marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and PCG together with US troops simulated the sinking of an “enemy” vessel off the coast of San Antonio, Zambales.

Early last month, the President named four additional sites expanding access to US military troops under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

This increases the total to nine EDCA sites. US$82 million has been allocated by the US for upgrading projects in various EDCA sites.

The hotel is highly recommended, with a huge swimming pool and nice tropical gardens dividing the four-story lodging areas from the wide, white sand beach. It is truly good value for money.

Over at Stations 1 and 2 where most of the restaurants and boutique hotels are located, one is happy to note that domestic tourism is still upbeat, with revenge travel likely fueling it.

In times of economic recession, it is really domestic travel that saves our tourism.

I wish though that the DOT and the local government could somehow streamline the crowded areas without losing its happy ambience.

Sec. Frasco arrived in the island last Friday afternoon for a look-see and a conference with tourism stakeholders.

Two of the urgent requests include provision for clean public restrooms (make sure the maintenance is done well) and a hyperbaric chamber for scuba divers in the Bulabog side and the northern parts facing Romblon.

Tourism is really a function of a good product made accessible and affordable (infrastructure), and product promotion.

Boracay needs no further promotion in the world market, but tourism infrastructure needs upgrading and business regulations strictly enforced.

Still and all, Boracay is back in business, and hopefully, other Philippine natural tourist destinations like Palawan, Siargao, the Montanosa and the Visayas which are truly tropical Asia’s best.

“The two leaders will also discuss regional matters and coordinate on efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

It is expected that President Biden will reaffirm US commitment to the defense of the Philippines.

Approximately 12,200 US and 5,400 Philippine troops took part in over two weeks of maneuvers focused on maritime defense, coastal defense, and maritime domain awareness.

Today is the start of the bilateral meeting between US President Joe Biden and our President.

According to the White House state-

It is also expected that President Marcos Jr. will share his plans to actively participate in the promotion of the rules-based international order guided by his commitment to advance Philippine national interest.