[ Manila Bulletin Online ] June 20, 2008
By ELLALYN DE VERA
Various stakeholders on Boracay Island in Aklan have launched a project to make this premier tourist destination climate-friendly with the implementation of energy-efficient measures by the establishments there.
The project "Save the Climate, Save Boracay," is an initiative of international environmental group Greenpeace to tap top island destinations in Southeast Asia for the effort to decrease carbon footprint and promote awareness of climate change.
It is a partnership among Greenpeace, the municipality of Malay (Boracay Island), Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Boracay Foundation Inc., Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mother Earth Foundation.
Boracay joins Bali Island, a top tourist destination in Indonesia, in the Greenpeace initiative to implement collective energy-efficient measures at resorts, restaurants, bars and other establishments on the island.
"Boracay can become a model of a climate-friendly destination for many other tourist destinations in Asia and around the world. We are pleased that many resorts here are already implementing various energy saving measures which with a little more assistance and encouragement could be heavily replicated in all the establishments in Boracay," said Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director Von Hernandez said.
Greenpeace said many of the islands in the Philippines are vulnerable to the rise in sea level and extreme weather events caused by climate change.
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