NEWS

The True Meaning of Supporting Local in Boracay By Gene Loves Acosta The Philippine Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector makes up about 40% of the national economy. That’s a big number, but it becomes clearer when you realize that nine out of 10 businesses in the country fall into the micro category. These are ventures with assets of up to three million pesos, surviving on lean budgets and long hours. Beneath them lies an even wider base of nano-entrepreneurs: r

By Jun N. Aguirre Mayor Frolibar Bautista with members of the RACU PNP during the opening of the CIDG office in Caticlan. 📸 MDRRMO, Facebook Security across Boracay Island has been upgraded as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the primary investigation and operational support unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP), joins a massive multi-agency deployment. Part of a broader "Safer Cities" initiative, the move builds on security protocols established

By Freida Dario-Santiago Source link: https://www.lovethephilippines.travel/newsroom-and-media/news/tourism-chief-convenes-dot-attached-agency-heads-to-ensure-tourism-alignment-with-infra-dev-t-agenda-of-marcos-administration President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Dita Angara-Mathay as the new secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Malacañang announced on April 10, tapping a veteran trade and investment official to lead the country’s tourism sector. According to

SMC says proposal not abandoned, may still be revisited in the future By Freida Dario-Santiago San Miguel Corporation (SMC) issued a formal clarification on May 29 after reports and social media posts widely circulated claims that the company had withdrawn its controversial Boracay bridge proposal following mounting opposition from Aklan leaders and local stakeholders. The company stopped short of declaring a formal withdrawal of the proposal, saying instead that the project

The scheduled 12-hour power interruptions are over By Jun N. Aguirre The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has reported completing its rehabilitation project for its Unidos–Caticlan 69-kiloVolt (kV) Line last February 13, 2026. The project entailed the replacement of damaged underground cables in Boracay, requiring several 12-hour scheduled power interruptions, spread across the first quarter. Reagan Alcantara, lead specialist of the Public Relations Departm

By Jun N. Aguirre An American photographer, renowned for his portraits of U.S. politicians and celebrities, visited Boracay in March to prepare for an upcoming photo exhibition in New York. Rob Rich shared with the Boracay Sun News that his exhibit entitled” Vibrant Depths,” will showcase the underwater splendor of various Philippine tourism destinations, with a special focus on Boracay. In addition to this resort island, his showcase features the marine environments of Tagay

By Jun N. Aguirre Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores announced that the province is constructing an ₱810-million cruise sheltered port in coordination with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). The facility is designed to boost tourism by luring cruise ship companies through seamless travel. Currently, cruise ships must anchor several miles off the coast of Boracay, requiring tender boats to ferry passengers to and from the island. Of the total project budget, ₱300 millio

By Jun N. Aguirre The move to amend Presidential Proclamation No. 1064 (PP 1064) is gaining momentum, particularly concerning the controversial 30-meter-wide road easement on Boracay Island. Signed in 2006 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, PP 1064 classified portions of the island as either forestland or agricultural land. For years, Boracay residents have advocated for an amendment to resolve long-standing land ownership disputes and secure legal titles for their

Formal opposition to SMHC’s unsolicited proposal by Malay Municipal Council, Aklan Provincial Government and key business groups By Freida Dario-Santiago The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay or the Malay Council formally passed SB Resolution No. 142, Series of 2026, its formal expression of the “strong objection” from the people of Malay to the Proposed Caticlan-Boracay Bridge Project by San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), following a unanimous vote during its 8th Regular Sess

By Freida Dario-Santiago IT’S OFFICIAL: BORACAY’S WHITE BEACH AMONG “BEST OF THE BEST BEACHES” IN ASIA Ranking No. 6 in Asia on TripAdvisor , this tropical gem continues to wow travelers worldwide. To earn this spot, a destination must consistently receive glowing reviews, placing it in the top 1% of millions of listings on the world’s largest travel platform. 📸 Jack Jarilla Ranking No. 6 in Asia on TripAdvisor , this tropical gem continues to wow travelers worldwide. To

After a banner 2025 capped by top regional honors, Boracay’s iconic White Beach was voted the world’s best beach by readers of Condé Nast Traveler . By Freida Dario-Santiago Just as Boracay was celebrating its top-four ranking among Asia’s best islands, Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) released its year-end list of the World’s Best Beaches “for Sunbathing, Surfing, and Doing Absolutely Nothing,” based on votes from readers of its US edition. The prestigious top-15 list features s

by Azenith Resurreccion The sport of kiteboarding debuts at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand and on the first podium was Warner Janoya, from Boracay. After suffering a massive injury February this year, Warner Janoya achieved a triumphant comeback with a podium win at the 33rd SEA Games in Pattaya, Thailand. Warner Janoya, 24, was raised on the shores of Bulabog Beach. Born to a Filipino mother and a German father, he is one of the grassroots athletes in Philippine kiteboarding

by Jun N. Aguirre Fr. Jayvee Delos Santos and Fr. Kevin Roldan celebrated mass at Narra Resort along the Nabaoy River in Malay, uniting scientists and environmental advocates last October 2025. 📸 Courtesy of Raymond Sucgang A Roman Catholic priest and a group of scientists, researchers, and conservationists have joined forces to protect Boracay Island’s blue economy. The blue economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources to drive economic growth, cr

by Jun N. Aguirre NGCP linemen erecting poles to ensure continuous power supply. 📸 NGCP Various stakeholder groups have urged the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to fast-track efforts to stabilize Boracay Island’s electricity supply ahead of its hosting of the ASEAN meet in March 2026. At a press conference held last December at Casa Pilar Beach Resort, NGCP spokesperson Atty. Cynthia Alabanza said the target completion of the rehabilitation of the Unid

Tribal leaders from various communities in Panay Island showed a united front at a two-day conference in Boracay. Source: Facebook by Jun N. Aguirre Tribal leaders and elders from various Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities across Panay Island gathered for the first time at the Paradise Garden Resort in Boracay on December 5-6, 2025, to craft a shared, region-wide IP code. The consultative summit was convened by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), the National Commis

The MV Luminara by Jun N. Aguirre The Department of Tourism-Western Visayas (DOT-WV) is optimistic that 2026 will be a strong year for tourism in the region, with Boracay Island positioned as a key driver of growth. In an exclusive interview with Boracay Sun News (BSN) on January 17, DOT-WV Regional Director Crisanta Rodriguez said Boracay will be at the forefront of cruise tourism, with increased arrivals expected from the Chinese, Taiwanese, and Indian markets. Niven Maqui

ASEAN leaders posing with Boracay’s iconic paraw and sandcastle after the December conference. 📸 ASEAN.org by Jun N. Aguirre The Department of Tourism-Western Visayas (DOT-WV) prepares Boracay to be ASEAN-ready by conducting training sessions from February 17-20, to help strengthen the professionalism and competitiveness of the local tour guides in preparation for the ASEAN activities this March. Workshops include tour guiding and spiel development, protocol, social grace

by Freida Dario-Santiago To improve ease of travel to Boracay, the Boracay iPass automated ticketing and port access system was launched last year at the island’s main gateways: the Caticlan Port and Cagban Port. Smarter Gateway to Boracay Boracay iPass is a smart, automated port ticketing system that consolidates mandatory travel fees and access requirements into one digital transaction. It replaces manual, multi-step processing with a streamlined, QR code-based workflow tha

We sought clarity from both the NGCP and AKELCO by Freida Dario-Santiago 📸 Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file Power Advisory from NGCP In a Boracay Sun News exclusive interview with NGCP’s communications team, the grid operator confirmed that rehabilitation works along the 69-kV Unidos–Caticlan transmission line are underway. The project includes replacing damaged underground cables in Boracay and would require a total of six separate 12-hour scheduled power interruption

by Freida Dario-Santiago As of this writing, the Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) has drafted separate letters to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and to the Senate, formally expressing the business sector’s grave concerns and firm opposition to the proposed Boracay Bridge Project. The letters were written in light of the enacted 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). According to the Department of Budget and Management (Official Gazette, Jan. 5, 2026), the Boracay Bridge Projec