SUPPORT FOR BIDA. Boracay Island in this undated photo. President Rodrigo Duterte’s push on Monday (July 27, 2020) for the creation of the Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA) is a piece of welcome news as it would ensure the sustainability of the development on the island. (PNA file photo)
ILOILO CITY – Stakeholders support the creation of the Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA) mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista of Malay town, which hosts the world-renowned Boracay Island, said he welcomes the proposal since it is for the development of the island.
“As long as there is no encroachment in the function of the LGU (local government unit), then there is no problem,” he said in a phone interview.
Natividad Bernardino, general manager of the Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group (BIARMG), said the pronouncement of President Duterte is good news for them.
She said BIDA is the proposal of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF). The task force as an ad hoc body was given an extension until May 2021.
BIARMG is the management office of the BIATF based in Boracay supervising the day-to-day implementation of rehabilitation projects and activities of the BIATF.
Bautista said a draft of the bill was presented to them by the task force last month and they suggested some amendments, which were also considered.
Those that were deleted concerned the encroachment on the function of the LGU, he said.
BIDA, as a whole, could help a lot, especially when there are projects that need bigger financial exposure because they will be infusing more funds, he added.
“It is good because their budget is included in the General Appropriations Act, so it is a big support to the development of the island. The LGU has limited resources,” he said, adding that they just rely on tourism.
“BIDA once it becomes a law will be the permanent body that will oversee and ensure the sustainability of all the rehabilitation efforts that we’ve started in Boracay,” Bernardino said.
The creation of the BIDA was discussed by the task force but it was only early this year that it was able to prepare its version of the bill that will serve as the official draft.
She said the draft might have been endorsed to Congress since the resolution endorsing the paper was already signed when the task force met in Boracay in June.
Bernardino said they are hopeful that BIDA will be signed into law before the term of the task force ends next year and the works will be properly turned over to them.
In the draft bill, BIDA…
