Boracay in danger of collapsing as 815 sinkholes discovered

by Tara Yap, MB 

THE Sun sets at world-famous Boracay Island on Nov. 24. (Tara Yap)

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) has warned that world-famous Boracay Island could collapse after 815 sinkholes were discovered.

“There is danger if there is overcapacity. Only time will tell when structures will collapse,” warned Engr. Mae Magarzo, chief geologist of MGB in Western Visayas region.

Magarzo told the Manila Bulletin in a phone interview on Wednesday, Dec. 14, that the number of sinkholes at the country’s most popular beach destination in Malay town, Aklan province gradually increased in the past four years.

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The MGB-6 found 789 sinkholes in three barangays during a hazard assessment in 2018, the year when the Duterte administration implemented massive rehabilitation and banned tourists in Boracay for six months.

By 2019, the number of sinkholes rose to 801. By 2022, these increased to 815.

Magarzo said that Boracay is susceptible to sinkholes since the ground is made mostly of limestone. 

She added that sinkholes are very hard to predict as these suddenly happen and there are no prior indicators.

The MGB-6 Coastal Geohazard Map also found key areas in the resort-island that are susceptible to erosion.

“The main beach is already showing low erosion,” Magarzo said.

Magarzo is calling for the stronger implementation of Boracay’s carrying capacity.

In 2018, the government set a maximum of 19,215 tourists in the resort-island per day with only 6,405 new tourists allowed to enter.

The DENR has yet to release Boracay’s new carrying capacity which was supposed to have been released when the term of President Duterte ended last June 30.

A Holy and Dangerous Day

Everyone is different. For some, Sunday is a day to relax, to unwind, to steam off, to belch out the heavy burdens of the mind and the heart -  breathing space in between weeks and weeks of hard work. That is why people fill up the streets, crowd the parks, and the beaches on Sundays. The disco and the pub houses, the eateries and -mostly- the shopping malls make good money on this day. It's a day of Gold. The loss of some is the gain of others.

Though most enjoyable, Sunday at the same time is a dangerous day. Since it is here where people come together, and it comes only once in seven days, a certain spirit of freedom and merriment pervades during that day. That is why in our 'celebration', we can't avoid jostling one another, rubbing our shoulders against other's shoulders and in the process, friction is produced that can destroy the gaiety of this most blessed day. Sayang kaayo!

Taking advantage of this short day of 'freedom', we sometimes lose control of ourselves, our senses especially out tongue, the most dangerous part of our body. I wrote already about it in previous columns at this corner. Yes, the tongue can incite, divide and hurt. The tongue is oftentimes the author of distrust, and suspicion leading to isolation and non-communication. Now is the end of friendship. While the tongue can praise, worship and give honor, it is amazing how much harm it does in just one day. Sunday - the day of the jackal?

Sunday is a day first for others; secondly, only for 'me'! Yes, there are zealous people out there, who want to put their free day into good use with a noble purpose. It is a day to visit and cheer up the patients in the hospitals; the prisoners in jail; a day to learn more - another language, bible, piano-playing, cooking lessons. And at the end of the Sunday, these lowly lives sigh, "Day-off nga, lalo namang pagod". Yes, some don't feel well, but the desire being on service is enough reservoir of strength. Others almost find no time taking some food but the satisfaction and the fulfillment is beyond measure. I learned this many times especially from my nurse-students: Learning the German language while still being on duty in several hospitals in Mindanao.

Sunday is actually the Lord's day - but only "if and when I have some time left over". There are many who do not go to church because they say, "Lalo lang akong magkasala." They claim seeing in the church the 'chismosas', the "pintaseras', the 'mayabang', the 'supladas' and the 'mapagkunwari'. But they should not fail to see the good people in the church - and there are still a lot of them in there. And besides, why go and look for the bad instead of seeking the good?

But granting that you and I are the cause of scandal, we ought to reflect very, very seriously and be ready to accept reality even if it is hurting our pride and self esteem. No one can search and arrive at the truth of our hearts but us. No one can change us without our humble consent and total submission.

Everyday is the Lord's day in the hearts of the lowly, the simple and the humble.

Holiday Hazards

Re-posted Editorial from MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR with friendly permission of the publisher Marietta Siongco:

This the season to be careful. As the Christian season approaches and homes and establishments get festooned with various lighting fixtures, it would be well for all of us to be mindful of the actual materials we use for such decorations. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has given out a list of approved Christmas lights brands, and of the scores that are being sold in he market, only 20 have actually passed muster. Most of us do not think twice about our purchases and rarely even look at what brand of lights we buy, but our choices can literally be a matter of life and death, We look back to 2004 and remember that even then-house speaker Jose de Venecia lost a daughter to a fire in their home that originated from faulty Christmas lights. Dozens of other such fires have occurred over the years, adding a bitter note to virtually every holiday celebration.

...

However, it is goverment's failure to prevent such brands from being sold in the first place. The DTI has approved only 20 branches - but what does government intend to do with the rest? How do the faulty brands get into the country in the first place? There is an obvious failure here on the part of the government agencies tasked to guard against such faulty and dangerous merchandise.

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