By Jason Faustino
01/11/2010 [ tribune.net.ph ]
The 3,000 strong-member Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) yesterday asked the Aklan provincial council to cease the rush ground breaking activity on the upgrading of the Caticlan airport because of its adverse environmental impact on the beaches of Boracay which draws a million tourists annually.
The BFI said that President Arroyo and other ranking government officials will proceed with the ceremony this coming Tuesday even without public consultations on this P2.5-billion build-rehabilitate-operate-transfer scheme project.
Henry Chusuey, BFI chairman, said their members oppose the plan of the Caticlan International Airport Development Corp. to level the hill for the upgrading of the airport without its environmental concerns and problems being fully studied and addressed.
“Leveling the hill to make way for the international airport in Caticlan would lead to ecological disaster,” Chusuey said in the foundation’s approved resolution forwarded to Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez.
“As discussed by several concerned environmental groups,” he said, “cutting the hill would cause irreversible effects to Boracay’s unique micro-climate and ultimately damage Boracay’s ecosystem including its famous white beach.”
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