Our findings of the Island of Boracay may not be pretty or inviting yet , but given time we feel it can regain a lost luster and shine again . as we arrived the weather was rain and cold . environmental fees cost more than the short trip across from Caticlan . I still don’t understand charging after the fact or making the tourism trade pay for over building and improper sewage .
The rooms available weren’t the best and cost was high . keep in mind this was Christmas week . We moved to better quarters after two days , closer to the beach and a bit nicer . Many people had the same experience , relocating to available rooms . Many resorts have been slated to be torn down , many are posted with permits stating work should begin or face demolition as well . Quite a number have been demolished already . Just the beginning . The main avenue has been torn up to replace sewer lines , drainage , fresh water lines and it looked like cable lines . strong stench of open sewer could be detected throughout the east beach area . This is a temporary problem but let’s not forget it’s Christmas week .
On the streets the sidewalks are paver brick , unfinished . The sewer and water lines run under the sidewalks and most are open pits . Many places smell of raw sewage , have mosquitos and are unattractive as of yet . These are small problems that are being addressed and soon will be the beautiful city designed to be . Off the golden path it becomes paved or gravel as any other Island throughout the Philippines . Old school neighborhoods have a charm and are grandfathered in from generations ago . This is the work force for the resorts , a very needed group of families that have lived on Boracay since before it became a tourist haven .
What shows along the beach is clean and raked daily . The beaches are clean and posted for fines if you don’t respect the new environmental standards .