BORACAY'S MICRO-CLIMATE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS UNIQUE BEACH

I was fortunate to be privy to a briefing on Micro-Climates where Boracay was featured as one of the case studies.

We were informed that Boracay is one of the few places in the world to have benefited from its unique micro-climate where the interplay of the monsoon winds, local conditions like the hill in Caticlan which acts as a climate change barrier that deflects both the habagat (northeast monsoon winds) and the amihan (southwest monsoon winds) in such a way that it gently loiters around the waters of Boracay and Caticlan replenishing its supply of pristine and gently polished  coral sand.

If you have ever wondered why Boracay is so blessed with such talcum powder like sand that does not burn your feet even at high noon ... Dr. Ric Javellosa of DENR says that it is because of Boracay-Caticlan's micro climate.

According to Dr. Javellosa, people in the environmental community consider the hill in Caticlan to be the  main driver and generator that allow the gentle monsoon breezes to create such fine and polished sand that Boracay is known for.


"Without that hill Boracay's beaches will disappear," said Javellosa.

Uh-oh ... doesn't the extension of the runway and upgrade of Caticlan airport into an international airport call for the leveling of the hill at the edge of the runway?

Isn't that the same hill that is being touted as responsible for deflecting the amihan and habagat that replenishes Boracay and Caticlan's beaches with fine white coral sand?

Wait ... something must be done before they level that particular hill. The least we can do is to validate the micro-climate conditions and the claim that the hill plays an important role as a climate change barrier.

We don't want to sound anti-development, but, we must at least ensure that an environmental impact study was done for the airport upgrade project.

Help! Can someone or any of the powers-that-be listening at the moment do something to make sure that we are not doing away with "something that appears so insignificant but in reality is".

If that hill in Caticlan is such a valuable resource as learned environmentalists claim --- we should save it. Otherwise, be ready to say goodbye to "one of the world's best beaches" and say hello to the sand dunes of Caticlan.

Mountain Woods Subic

This is where we had the DOT-PCVC Planning Session for Greet Program last June 4-6, 2009. It used to be an open pagoda of the Mountain Woods Resort Hotel in Subic which they later enclosed as a function room.

It was very rainy that weekend. No tropical cyclone though, just monsoon rains. But I enjoyed it immensely. Very conducive.

The hotel used to serve as quarters for U.S. Navy personnel. It was refurbished and converted into a small hotel then. The rooms were okay. So was the comfort room. The view was that of Subic's natural rainforest below. One could get a glimpse of the bay somewhere in the horizon.

Mountain Woods is on the periphery of SBMA so it is about 5-10 mins drive from Subic proper where the happenings are. However, driving to the hotel gave us this feeling that we were not in the Philippines because the housing area which we passed by looked more like it was in the States. No fences, American architecture, wide front lawns, clear sidewalks, etc. Some homes had "For Rent" signs with corresponding contact nos. so it gave me some ideas -- or it left me dreaming or wishing to be here with my family ... living amidst the green surroundings of nature preserved -- the American way.

Off to Cordillera

We got word from DOT-PCVC that our next assignment for Turismo Mismo is the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). 

We will be visiting the towns of Tuba, Tublay, Bokod, Baguio, Kabayan (Benguet); Banaue (Ifugao); and, Sagada and Bontoc (Mountain Province).

We will spend 2 months here together with staff of ideasman, inc. --- professional community organizer Allan Lumbo (above left), Manny Tabuzo (above right), and Boy Figueroa. 

Another 2 months will be spent in towns of Kalinga and Apayao provinces.