Residents and hotel operators of resort island Boracay are protesting
the move to transfer the Metro Manila garbage dumpsite to Semirara
island in Antique, citing its disastrous effects on the island’s tourism
industry. 

"If it pushes through, this will be worse than the coliform issue which
paralyzed the operations of Boracay barely three years ago," Waling
Waling Beach Hotel owner Orlando Sacay said. 

This apprehension was echoed by Philippine Tourism Authority
(PTA) General Manager Nixon Kua who appealed to the government
to reconsider its plan to barge Metro Manila’ garbage to the island. 

In an interview yesterday, Kua aired his concern about the
implications of the project on the tourism industry in and around
Antique. 

Specifically, Kua was concerned about the possibility of an
environmental disaster that may result from the use of barges to ship
the garbage. He explained that on some occasions, the current of the
waters surrounding Semirara moves to the direction of Boracay,
which is only some 65 kilometers away. 

"If the barge capsizes there, all of the garbage would move towards
Boracay," Kua said. 

The possibility of water contamination in case of leachate leakage
was also cited by Kua as a cause for concern. 

Kua noted that the PTA allocates hundreds of millions of pesos for
the treatment of the sewage and the supply of clean water in Boracay.

Semirara island in Caluya, Antique actually lies adjacent to the
world-famous Boracay island resort and is about 30 minutes away by
boat. "During the "habagat" season, which occurs from June to
October every year, the direction of the wind shifts towards
Boracay," Sacay said. 

Kua also cited his apprehensions about the route of the barges which
would pass a number of prime tourist destinations. Virgin areas such
as the Verde Islands near Lobo, Batangas, Puerto Galera in Mindoro
and Tablas Island in Romblon would also face risks from the barges. 

However, in fairness to the government, Kua said that the PTA
would not object if assurance can be given that the barges are
properly covered and other environmental safeguards are
implemented.  [philstar]