Some experts said the presence of more and more algae each year is a result

of the increasing population and the lack of waste treatment facilities on the
island.

Untreated water serves as fertilizer for algae, they said.

A report of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2015 said:

"Direct discharge of untreated waste water near the shore brings about poor
water quality level that consequently results in frequent algal blooms and coral
reef deterioration."

The JICA study conducted from 2010 to 2015 revealed that the coral reef
ecosystem of Boracay has been destroyed due to tourism-related activities
and the release of untreated waste water into the sea.

These are the reasons for the destruction of corals and the algae bloom or
"green tide", it said.

In 2014, monitoring by the Environmental Management Bureau 6-B showed

that the coliform level was high in some parts of Boracay, although this has
not yet reached the critical level at that time.

Coliform are bacteria that usually come from the waste of humans or animals.

It may cause skin disease and other conditions.

ALIBO, Aklan – Nilinaw ni Department of Tourism (DOT)-Boracay field office head Kristoffer
Leo Vellete na hindi naapektuhan ang tourist arrivals ng kontrobersyal na lumot sa dalampasigan
ng Boracay.

Ayon kay Vellete, sa katunayan ay patuloy ang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga turistang
nagbabakasyon sa isla sa unang dalawang buwan ng taong kasalukuyan.

Pinawi rin nito ang pagkabahala ng mga tao kaugnay sa naglalabasang lumot dahil natural
phenomenon aniya ito na kadalasang lumalabas tuwing Pebrero hanggang Mayo ng bawat taon.

READ: 5 pulis, sugatan sa NPA ambush sa Abra

Iginiit pa ni Vellete na nangyayari na ito bago pa nadiskubre ang isla bilang isang tourist
destination.
Sa isinasagawang scientific study na kinuha ng Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI), ang lumot o
green algae ay isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit pino at maputi ang buhangin sa Boracay.

READ: Paglikha ng Benham Rise Dev't Authority, bilisan - solons

Binabalanse umano ng mga lumot ang sobrang nutrients sa tubig at kung aalisin ito ay
magdudulot ng ecosystem imbalance.

Napag-alaman na ang isyu ay nakarating na kay Department of Environment and Natural

Resources Sec. Gina Lopez.

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KLAN, Philippines – A record-high 1.7 million tourists flocked to Boracay Island in

2016, beating the official target for the world-famous Philippine island resort.

The Malay Municipal Tourism Office said Boracay drew 1,725,483 tourist arrivals in
2016 compared to 1,560,106 in 2015 – a 10.6% increase.

Foreign arrivals in Boracay surged to 868,765, up by 12.89% from 2015, while

domestic tourists registered 813,302 arrivals, up by 8.7%.

Koreans topped the foreign tourists who visited the famed island resort last year,
accounting for 37% of the total number.

There were 321,016 Korean tourists in Boracay in 2016, 9.8% more than the 292,174
arrivals in 2015.

China came in second with 273,297 tourists last year compared to 177,926 in 2015.
This is a record 53.6% increase, owing to warmer diplomatic ties between China and
the Philippines and direct flights from mainland China to the Kalibo International
Airport.

The other inbound markets in the top 10 are the following:

 Taiwan: 55,736
 Malaysia: 26,115
 United States: 23,887
  Australia: 16,745
 United Kingdom: 16,318
 Saudi Arabia: 15,681
 Russia: 11,593
 Singapore: 11,155

East Asians from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and Hongkong led the regional
groupings with 667,110 or 77% of the total foreigners in the island.

Tourists from fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-

nations Laos, Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
and Indonesia accounted for 41,753 arrivals or 4.8% of foreigners in Boracay.

North Americans or tourists from Mexico, Canada and the US also had 31,030
arrivals last year. Tourists from the Middle Eastern countries Saudi Arabia, Israel,
Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Jordan posted 23,089 arrivals. –
Rappler.com

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