Battling With Beach Erosion

By Dominic Napat

Coastal erosion on White Beach during the Habagat season. 📸 Franzi Preglo 

Every year, shifting winds reshape Boracay’s shoreline. During the Habagat season (March-October), stronger waves pull sand offshore, often exposing the roots of trees along the beach. When the Amihan winds arrive, sand gradually returns, restoring the shoreline. This seasonal cycle is natural, but when the coastal tree line is cleared for commercial purposes, the beach loses a critical buffer. When stronger storms or typhoons strike, fewer natural barriers remain to protect people and property.

Uh oh, where did the beach go?

Exposed roots are common in Habagat, but many residents have noticed erosion creeping closer to beachfront areas, especially where land is flat and vegetation is sparse. Walking along White Beach, it’s easy to find evidence of cut-down trees near the shoreline. Reasons vary, from better views, development, or beach access but the tradeoff is clear: sacrificing vegetation can mean losing beach. Boracay’s iconic “million-dollar view” is, quite literally, at risk.

Wait, didn’t we plant coconuts last year? Where did they go?

Past efforts to slow erosion, from bamboo barriers to coconut seedlings have had mixed results because they require careful planning and long-term maintenance. Not all coconuts are the same: seedlings sourced from rivers or mountains are different species from true beach coconuts and often fail in coastal conditions. Timing and maturity also matter. For coconuts to function as an effective natural barrier, they typically need 5-10 years to establish strong root systems.

Low-tech and built-with-nature solutions like bamboo fences can slow erosion by breaking waves and trapping sediment. They are affordable and relatively effective, but only for about 5-7 years, after which they degrade and can become debris if not maintained.

In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, bamboo T-fences have successfully reduced erosion and supported mangrove recovery. However, research shows these barriers must be carefully modeled to avoid “downdrift erosion,” where protection in one area simply shifts the problem elsewhere. What works in the Delta’s muddy coast may not translate perfectly to Boracay’s sandy shoreline.

Boracay stands at a crossroads. The right choices could secure the shoreline for future generations, while the wrong ones could leave residents climbing over barriers while the beach continues to disappear.

Bamboo T-fences in the Mekong Delta. 📸 Petróleo e Gas

What are these pipes on the beach?

These are not a normal part of the scenery 

Coastal erosion after Typhoon Ramil last October 2025. 📸 Freida Dario-Santiago

Visitors often ask about the black pipes that sometimes appear on White Beach after storm surges. These pipelines are essential components of Boracay’s drainage and wastewater system. Their visibility is usually temporary, occurring mainly during low tide or after strong wave action.

The bluish pipes coming from the pumping station in Bulabog Beach and the black pipes along White Beach are separate systems, but they are part of a single, integrated drainage network developed by national and local agencies (DPWH, DENR, LGU Malay, LGU Aklan, NEDA, and TIEZA).

Before 2018, Boracay’s shoreline was often affected by untreated wastewater. A government investigation resulted in a six-month island-wide rehabilitation to restore the marine environment.

The pipelines visitors see today were installed as part of that rehabilitation and are a modern, connected drainage and treated wastewater system designed to protect Boracay’s coastal waters and keep the marine environment safe for residents and tourists alike.

Source: TIEZA’s “Guidelines on the Protection and Sustainable Operation and Maintenance of the Boracay Island Drainage Network (tieza.gov.ph)