MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 115, May 11, 2020 ]
EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE BORACAY INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 53(S.2018)
WHEREAS, pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 10121 or the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010," and by virtue of Proclamation No. 475 (s. 2018), a state of calamity remains in full force and effect in the barangays of Balabag, Manoc-Manoc and Yapak ("Boracay island") in the Municipality of Malay, Province of Aklan;
WHEREAS, to facilitate the rehabilitation and ensure the ecological sustainability of the Island of Boracay, Executive Order (EG) No. 53 (s. 2018) created the Boracay inter-Agency Task Force ("Task Force"), which shall be deemed dissolved after two (2) years from the effectivity thereof or on 08 May 2020, unless extended by the President;
WHEREAS, pursuant to EO No. 53, the President, upon the recommendation of the Cabinet, approved the Boracay Action Plan, which provides for synchronized and strategic national and local interventions to ensure the island's rehabilitation over the medium term and sustainable management over the long term, towards the vision of a globally-competitive and world-class tourism destination with a vibrant, productive, inclusive and climate-resilient economy;
WHEREAS, based on a 2018 study conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, and the University of the Philippines Los Banos, Laguna, and upon ground validation, the Boracay island had exceeded its physical carrying capacity by 109.95 hectares (or 4,712 units) for residential structures, 194.90 has. (or 154 units) for businesses with lodging or accommodation services, and 16.95 has. (or 878 units) for other business establishments, while its total population carrying capacity had been exceeded by 15,836 persons per day;
WHEREAS, upon further validation made by the Task Force last 31 2020, thirty-three percent (33%) of establishments in the Boracay island are not compliant with the twenty-five (25) meters plus five (5) meters beach easement, twenty-seven percent (27%) of establishments have not complied with the road easement, required under existing laws;
WHEREAS, despite the demolition of 111 structures on wetlands, 227 structures on the beach easement and 898 on the road easement since the inception of the Task Force in 2018, there are still 723 structures built on forestland blocks, 112 on the beach easement, and 334 on the road easement; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to complete critical projects in Boracay island pursuant to the Boracay Action Plan, such as but not limited to the improvement of the water drainage system, demolition of remaining establishments situated in forest land and wetland areas, enforcement of beach and road easements, as well as the rehabilitation of the Boracay Circumferential Road, and extend the life of the Task Force so it may ensure implementation of carrying capacity regulations, and continue to carry out its mandate under EO No. 53;
NOW THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order the following:
Section 1. Amendments to EO No. 53. (a) Section 1 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 1. Creation of the Boracay inter-agency Task Force. The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force ("Task Force") is hereby created, to be composed of the following:
xxx
The Task Force shall be deemed dissolved on 08 May 2021, unless extended or sooner terminated by the President."
(b) Section 6 is also amended to read as follows:
"Section 6, Reportorial Requirement, xxx
Within 30 days prior to its dissolution under Section 1 of this Order, the Task Force shall publish a final report on its accomplishments aligned with the key thematic areas of the Boracay Action Plan, including plans and programs implemented and the total budget utilized."
Section 2. Unaffected provisions. Except for the foregoing amendments, all other provisions of EO No. 53 shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 3. Repeal. All orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 4. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 11th day of May in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty.
(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
By the President:
(SGD.) SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA
Executive Secretary
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