By Alec Go
President Rodrigo Duterte signed two executive orders on Sept. 14 extending the term of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) and transferring the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to the Department of Finance (DOF).
Based on Executive Order No. 147, the BIATF which was tasked to rehabilitate the island “shall be deemed dissolved on 30 June 2022, unless extended or sooner terminated by the President.”
The BIATF was created in 2018 through EO No. 53, which term was extended in 2020 until May 8, 2021 through EO No. 115.
The government said among the task force’s accomplishments as of April 2021 are the 80% compliance with the 25+5 meter beach easement among 339 establishments, and the 83% compliance with 12-meter road easement out of 1,230 structures.
At least 162 cases against illegal forestland occupants were also prepared including 54 that have been filed in court, and 262 cases were filed before the Pollution Adjudication Board.
The first and second phases of the Boracay Circumferential Road’s rehabilitation have been completed in 2020. The third and fourth phases have yet to be finished, with the latter’s implementation set in 2022.
PCIC transfer
Meanwhile, EO No. 148 transfers the PCIC from the Department of Agricultural (DA) to the DOF “for policy and program coordination, and general supervision.”
The transfer was recommended by the DOF, DA, and the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) to ensure “rationalized and monitored” operations for the efficient utilization of government assets and resources.
The PCIC will be chaired by the DOF secretary and the vice chairperson will be the DA secretary. -rir