Philippine Tourism Authority to Exercise Administration and Control over Boracay Island

April 18, 2006

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 214

MANDATING THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM AUTHORITY TO EXERCISE ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL OVER BORACAY ISLAND

WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 564 (PD 564) of October 2, 1974 gave the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) the following purposes:

(a) Implementing arm

(b) Developing tourist zones

(c) Assist private enterprise

(d) Operate and maintain tourist facilities

(e) Assure land availability

(f) Coordinate all tourist project plans and operations;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the aforestated purposes, Section 5 (D) of PD 564 charged and vested the PTA with the following functions and powers of zone administration and control:

1. Zoning Regulations. In coordination with the Department of Local Government and Community Development (now the Department of Interior and Local Government) and other appropriate government agencies, to formulate and implement zoning regulations, including building codes, hotel standards, and other such restrictions as may be necessary within a tourist zone to control its orderly development, to preserve such historical, cultural and/or natural assets or relics giving the zone its tourism value and significance, and to assure adherence to approve zone development plans. SHacCD

2. Determination and Regulation of Zone Enterprises. To determine and regulate the enterprises to be established within and tourist zone.

3. Ecological Preservation and Maintenance. To ensure, through the proper authorities concerned, the ecological preservation, maintenance and/or rehabilitation of the common and the public areas within a tourist zone and the environment thereof; and specifically, to control beach erosion and pollution to preserve all aspects giving the zone its tourism value.

4. Preservation and Restoration of Tourist Attractions. In coordination with appropriate government agencies: (a) to identify and recommend to the President the preservation and/or restoration of national monuments or preserves; (b) arrange for the preservation and/or restoration of the same with appropriate government agencies or with the private sector or with the owners themselves of said tourist attractions/ and (c) identify and recommend to the appropriate authorities concerned the declaration of tourist areas and attractions as national monuments and preserves;

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 1801 of November 10, 1978 declared Boracay Island, Aklan as a tourist zone under the administration and control of the PTA pursuant to Section 5 (D) of PD 564;

WHEREAS, consistent with. the principle of devolution, the coordination with the Department of Local Government and Community Development (now the Department of Interior and Local Government) mentioned in Section 5 (D) of PD 564 may be done instead with the local government;

WHEREAS, it is the policy if the government to promote fast-growing industries like tourism where high-value jobs are most plentiful;

WHEREAS, Boracay has been declared the best beach in the world three times by Conde Nast Traveler;

WHEREAS, certain issues accompany rapid, unplanned tourism growth;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 377 (series of 2004) authorized an Eminent Persons Group to oversee the Sustainable Development of Boracay Tourism.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby mandate the Philippine Tourism Authority, through the Group Secretary of the Eminent Persons Group in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan, to exercise administration and control over Boracay Island pursuant to Section 5 (D) of PD 564.

All proclamations or executive orders inconsistent herewith are hereby revoked or modified accordingly.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed. aEDCAH

DONE in the City of Manila, this 18th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.