Zhi Hong:
In 1977, the Philippine Tourism Authority evaluated viable areas for tourism development. In1982, active plan by the Tourism Bureau started and they had an office in Boracay Island. At that time, there were few "Nipa" the traditional tourist accommodations, with the main form of accommodation of hotels made from bamboos housing catering around twenty to thirty people.
In 1998, the OECF “The Boracay Environmental Infrastructure Project Execution” provided assistance and development for wastewater and sewage disposal and also runoff control. During the year 2000, Aklan master plan was adopted for Tourism development and in 2007, a few issues regarding newly built buildings arouse but these issues were solved in the following year. In 2009, constructions of roads around Boracay Island began, together with the expansion of the adjacent international airport at Kalibo.
The progress of tourism development in Boracay has changed the island people’s lifestyle significantly. Locals were originally involved in subsistence agriculture and fishing activities. Boracay waters are shallow and lack fish abundance; fishing and collection of shellfish were mainly done for self-consumptions while the surplus was primarily sold in Katekuran market. The northern part of Boracay Island“Puka” is rich with shellfish and is also very popular for necklace making. The Philippines and Chinese buyers purchased these products and they are also sent to Cebu and Manila for processing. In addition, locals are employed in tourism related facilities and services and also put to practice traditional knowledge of fishing, operating boats and being tour guides through diving, snorkeling, or working as cleaners or sales people.
The Philippines local economic conditions are classified into five levels. Boracay Island was once in the fourth grade. However, the results of progress in tourism development have now put the island in the top category. Water and electricity are all supplied from Panay Island, and even though the north of Boracay is not yet equipped with water facilities, but construction of such services are in process.
With tourism development, changes are evident in Boracay Island in terms of sand erosion, coastal pollution, and environmental changes such as the sporadic felling of timber. A wastewater treatment facility was built with a joint venture with Japan, and this facility is to keep pace with waste disposed from various tourism operations. However, wastewater is not properly treated and evidence of sulfide spills over to the shorelines. This has resulted in the sand having a strange smell and implications for the future remain negative.