Tough job ahead for official tasked to develop Boracay

Boy Ryan Zabal BORACAY ISLAND – The fate of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) incharge of looking after Boracay lies in the hands of retired Police Deputy Director Virtus Gil who has been tasked to lead efforts to manage and govern the development of this tourism island. Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores said Gil was appointed anew by President Arroyo, to replace Connie Padilla, as EPG group secretary. "The urgent task facing the EPG for now is the flooding problem where the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) is mandated to fast-track the construction of the drainage system in Boracay," Miraflores pointed out. Miraflores said the PTA needs the site for the three pumping stations to solve the flooding of low-lying areas in the island. Gil is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1971 and former Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for administration and director for personnel and records management. He is also working at the Office of the President, with the rank of undersecretary, as deputy to National Security Council Adviser Norberto Gonzales. The private sector-led EPG was created by Arroyo under Memorandum Order No. 214 in 2006 to oversee the development of the island and to map out policies for the tourism industry. Last month, Malay Mayor Ceciron Cawaling and Environment Secretary Lito Atienza had agreed to impose the sixmonth moratorium in the construction of buildings and in the issuance of construction permits to stop the island’s uncontrolled development that has threatened to destroy its environment. Tourism receipts in 2007 reached P10.9-billion after 596,798 tourists had visited the island of Boracay, increasing from the 558,084 tourist arrivals in 2006.

[ Published by: Manila Bulletin Online – mb.com.p ] February 6, 2008
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