ILOILO CITY — The demolition of 1,020 structures along Boracay Island roads are ongoing to pave the way for the road widening project as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the island.
Based on the data of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Boracay, 579 of these structures are found along the main roads of the three barangays: 235 in Balabag, 173 in Yapak, and 171 in Manocmanoc.
Meanwhile, 395 of the structures to be demolished are in the circumferential road and 46 in the diversion road of the island. These structures include houses and stores, among others.
In an interview with CENRO-Boracay Richard Fabila, only 42 of these over a thousand of structures have already been demolished based on their latest data.
“These are all voluntary. After they (owners of structures) were served of the show cause order and they do not have defense, they voluntarily demolished them,” he said.
Mayor Ciceron Cawaling has already started signing the demolition order of these structures Thursday morning.
The order allows the local government unit to demolish the structures pursuant to Municipal Ordinance 2000-131 with the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In a press conference held a day before the island’s closure, DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo said that they are deploying 150 personnel to do the demolition, including the clearing operations of the road.
They have also deployed some 18 heavy equipment in the island to hasten the demolition of the structures considered nuisance on the roads of the island.
Bernardo also said that they are looking for an augmentation of PHP500 million for the construction of the 5.2 kilometer road, including streetlights and sidewalks.
DPWH is hoping to demolish and to finish the development of roads within the six months rehabilitation of the island. (PNA)
