Boracay now almost sleepy but shutdown stirs workers’ woes

A month after it was shut down and closed to tourists, Boracay is now far from the party island that it has become for decades.

It’s more serene, almost sleepy.

The waters seem to roll gently into the shore, dispersing, not breaking, into its white sand beach.

At dusk, the sun descends on the horizon, its burst of colors reflected more intensely on an undisturbed sea.

The tourists are gone now, save for some residents and a handful of foreigners who claim they have resident’s identification cards, strolling on the beach.

“We like it better, it’s more quiet,” said one child who was swimming close to the shore.

Beyond the serenity, however, remain the causes of Boracay's shutdown and the effects of the closure.

Data from the Boracay Inspection Committee showed that out of the 1,080 establishments that it had inspected, 207 didn't have environment compliance certificates, 228 had no sanitary permits and 195 were without discharge permits.

Hotels and other establishments whose frontages have encroached on the 30-meter easement zone have started to demolish their own structures.

Some hotels have even done away with several rooms.

On the island’s main road, demolitions continue.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing the construction of a 12-meter wide road with bike lanes and plant boxes.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) continue to dig the beachfront in search of sewerage lines from businesses and establishments which may not be connected to the main manhole built by the government.

Its officers have yet to trace any leakage from unauthorized sewer lines.

Recently, however, a backhoe hit a waterline of Boracay Water in front of a restaurant and caused hundreds of liters of water to spill.

Livelihood

But if there’s anyone bearing the brunt of the closure, it is the island's thousands of workers.

Formal workers like those of hotels and restaurants which have ceased operations have yet to receive any financial help from government, one month after the closure.

There are 18,788 displaced formal workers, profiling data from the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) shows while there are 4, 733 from the informal workers like massage therapists, and vendors.

Bonifacio Venancio, who used to be a driver for a tour company, on Thursdau brought with him his certificate of employment, a government ID and an application form for DOLE’s Boracay Emergency Employment Program.

A father of three, he had used up his savings the past month and now has little money to spare.

“Ngayon, wala na. Gutom. (It’s spent. We’re going hungry),” he says.

Alena Robles, who is on forced leave, has another worry in mind—her kid’s enrollment in June.

Robles, who has been retained by her company which is on limited operation, will receive a lumpsum of more than P 6,000 for the whole three months (or P 2,102.75 per month) without conditions.

Venancio, on the other hand, whose company has altogether ceased operation will get P 4,205.50 per month for a maximum of three months.

“The amount of financial support is equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the prevailing minimum wage of Region VI (i.e. PhP 4,205.50 per month) and shall be provided monthly for a maximum period of six (6) months. For retained workers, who do not receive their regular wage, the amount of financial support is equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the prevailing minimum wage of Region VI (i.e. PhP 2,102.75 per month) and shall be non-conditional to be provided in lump sum covering three (3) months,” Department Order No. 191 reads.

Those conditions include showing the job contacts to indicate that he/she had been trying to look for a job and training certificates from the DTI or TESDA, said Carmella Abellar, Officer-in-Charge of DOLE’s Aklan Provincial Office.

Abellar said the provincial office that they have only just started receiving applications now because the department order had just been approved by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on May 4 or almost two weeks after the closure and had to be published to take effect. It took effect today, May 24.

Abellar assures the workers application will be processed in ten days. Even those who used to work in Boracay but have chosen to return to their provinces may also avail of the program by submitting 1. Original and photocopy of their certificate of employment, 2. A government ID, and, 3.) application form available online through DOLE’s website.

Informal workers, meanwhile, have been under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) wing since April 26 under its cash for work program. They have been receiving a minimum wage for work such as picking up trash along the coastline to sweeping the main road.

The government has earmarked six months for Boracay’s closure. It has identified several benchmarks to decide if it could open it much earlier such as an improved quality of the water on the beach, significant progress on the road-widening projects and an improved handling of its solid waste.

One month after its closure, and given what had transpired in the past month, the future is uncertain as it was when Boracay was shut down. —NB, GMA News