Aboitiz Turn Over Rehabilitated Boracay Wetland Park to DENR and communities

BORACAY Island- The Aboitiz group handed over the rehabilitated Wetland No. 4 now known as the Balabag Wetland Park to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during a turn over  ceremony held on June 16, 2022.

As a testament to its commitment in the preservation of biodiversity and environmental protection in Boracay.

The one-hectare lagoon area in Barangay Balabag has been transformed into a linear urban park in partnership with the national government agencies led by the DENR-Western Visayas, the Department of Public Works and Highways, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and the Department of Tourism.

The event was attended by DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna, former DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, DENR Usec Roy Adobo Jr. EMB Executive Director Natividad Y. Bernardino, DILG Usec Epimaco Densing, DOJ ASEC Margaret Castillo-Padilla; TIEZA-COO Mark Lapid, and representatives from the Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management  Group,  and various representatives from partners.

Aboitiz Group President and Chief Executive Officer Sabin M. Aboitiz emphasized how central partnerships such as the Aboitiz Group’s Transformation journey “The Aboitiz group contribution to Boracay’s rehabilitation is part of our commitment to create safe, empowered, and sustainable communities..”

“As we journey sustainability through our Great Transformation into the Philippines first ‘techglomerate ‘, we will continue to identify and do our part to uplift and bring focus on environmentally and socially impactful initiatives for all our stakeholders. We are proud to have partnered with DENR, DPWH, TIEZA, DOT and the LGU of Boracay to build the Balabag Wetland Park, a spacec that we hope continues to promote education for the immediate community on the protection, conservation, enhancement, and rehabilitation of Boracay’s natural ecosystems,” said the Aboitiz chief.

For his part, DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna said ; “The Balabag Wetland Park, formerly Wetland No. 4 is another testament to the successful wetland rehabilitation of Boracay Island. My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Aboitiz Equity Ventures for being our partner in the rehabilitation and transformation of Wetland No. 4 into an urban forest park, which now serves as the center of the wetland eco tourism circuit of Boracay. <May the Balabag Wetland Park serve as a success story  as we capitalize on nature-based solutions such as wetland conservation and rehabilitation in our localities for a greener, more sustainable, and resilient approach of building back better.”

Director Natividad Y. Bernardino, OIC, Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau , expressed thanks for the partnership that made the rehabilitation project possible.

“The DENR and the BIATF are grateful to the Aboitiz Group for rehabilitating  Wetland no. 4  under BMB’s “Adopt-a-Wetland” program. From being a “waste receptacle.” Wetland No 4 has now been transformed into a lagoon with linear park, attracting tourists and locals right in the middle of Boracay’s commercial area,” said Bernardino.

Since the beginning of the rehabilitation project in 2018, the Aboitiz Group has always made it its aim to conceptualize and deploy nature-based solutions to create a functional public space out of the wetland area. By using low-impact eco-tourism designs, the Balabag Wetland Park has become not only a recreational area, but also educational and experimental space by generating awareness about the importance of wetlands and creating opportunists   for collaboration and partnerships among the local community, students and even tourists.

Several improvements have been made to the wetland area throughout its rehabilitation/ Aerators have been installed to maintain the water  quality of the lagoon, while endemic trees and plants have been planted along the lagoon’s perimeter boardwalk to help rebuild the biodiversity in the area.

An accompanying plaza was also constructed that serves as both a flood management measure and an attraction site for tourists and locals alike . The Balabag Wetland Park also features an activity area for community events, and educational signages have been placed around the Park to add to the experience.

The completion of the Balabag Wetland Park plaza officially capped its development phase.