The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, along with two large companies, will revive two of the nine wetlands in Aklan's Boracay Island.
Secretary Roy Cimatu said the Aboitiz group and the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp. are joining government efforts to rehabilitate the pollution-challenged Boracay Island by adopting two of its nine wetlands.
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. chief operating officer Sabin Aboitiz and Aboitiz Foundation Inc. head Maribeth Marasigan signed the contract for the adoption of wetland no. 4.
On the other hand, Energy Development Corp. president, and chief operating officer Ricardo Tantoco and senior manager for corporate social responsibility and watershed management Allan Barcena signed on behalf of the company for wetland no. 2.
Cimatu said he is optimistic the partnership with the two private firms could hasten and sustain the rehabilitation of Boracay wetlands.
“It will not be an easy job for government to do it alone, which is why we thank the private sector for agreeing to undertake the task at practically no cost to the government,” he said.
The rehabilitation of the wetlands would be undertaken in phases that are expected to go beyond the island’s scheduled reopening in October.
The closure period would allow the DENR and the adopters to lay the groundwork for the execution of the designs and programs for the rehabilitation, Cimatu said.
Under the partnership, the two companies would be responsible for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of eco-engineered structures and facilities to enhance the ecotourism values of the wetlands.
The DENR would take the lead in clearing the wetlands of illegal structures and relocate affected dwellers accordingly.