Locals, businessmen help keep Boracay safe

Is criminality on the rise in Boracay?

Coming at the heels of a recent accolade as the best island destination in the world by the Travel and Leisure magazine, the country’s favorite beaches are being hounded by talks of occasional thefts that occur in some resorts.  According to reports, the police have yet to solve some cases of thievery.

But some residents and business owners dismissed these as isolated and petty crimes that should not taint Boracay’s reputation as a safe place to enjoy the sun, sand and sea. They said they took it upon themselves to secure their resorts from untoward incidents and curb petty crimes such as theft, robbery, akyat-bahay (breaking-and-entering thievery) and other similar crimes by tightening security measures and collaborating with residents and business colleagues.

In 2011, the Boracay Special Tourism Police Office (BSTPO) estimated a decrease of 44 percent in criminal presence.  It deploys 66 police personnel all over the island.  Second to Kalibo as the most populated, Malay where is Boracay is situated, has an estimated population of 500,000.

 “Isang case lang naman yun so far. Safe man gihapon diri sa Boracay (It is just one case so far.  It is still safe here.),” said Erwin de Joseph, a native of Kalibo who works in as steakhouse in D’MALL.  Erwin said he still receives good reception in his restaurant and continues to see a throng of carefree fun-seekers for gastronomic treats.  Talking to some local and foreign tourists occasionally, he said,  they still have their confidence in frequenting Boracay to have the best time of their lives.  “Pag nakakausap ko sila minsan,  sinasabihan ko sila na i-care ang mga gamit nila (I tell them to care of their belongings.), he added.

Chito, a security officer in a long-running  hotel and restaurant De Paris at the beach front in station two owned by a Frenchman ,said, that its security has always been tighter and stricter especially in the evenings where reported cases of criminality occur.  “Shift ko po is gabi talaga at pinaigting pa namin (I have an evening shift and it is even more rigorous.),” he said.  He shared that the owner himself is hands-on and stays at the front restaurant especially during critical hours and makes sure that guests and other patrons do not leave any of their valuables unattended.  “Katulad nyan ngayon tinawag niya kung sino any may ari ng cigarette case and lighter (Just like now, he calls the attention of the owner of a cigarette case and lighter left on the table.).”

Over at station one, American Lee Rosaia who is operating a thirty-two year-old coffee shop Real Coffee famous for its calamansi muffins,  tucked a few steps from the beach through a narrow walkway, said, she could not help but worry about reported cases of thievery in her neighborhood in Bantud where her residence is.   It is walking distance from a posh spa and villas.    She keeps two big dogs to guard here house and herself.  “I hear everything in my coffee shop.  I hear of little kids from six to 10 stealing cellular phones from tourists,” she said.  She suspects that there is a syndicate behind then.  She said she has always been wary of suspicious-looking individuals lurking in her establishment and would usually alert customers too.  “I encourage others to do the same and report to police to thwart would-be incidence.  Thank God, nothing of that sort has happened yet in my coffee shop.”  She said the high incidence of reported crimes started two years ago when the statistics of squatters or informal settlers began to rise.

At the beach during daytime, twenty-three year-old Rex and his artsy skim board are a staple.  Along with younger skim boarding colleagues, they show off their skills by jumping and gliding on  flat-surfaced motley boards to lure beach enthusiasts to try skim boarding for P200 an hour.  “Safe pa rin po dito.  May narinig ako na mga bata na gumagawa ng nakawan pero mga dayo ata.  Maingat pa rin kami (It is still safe here.  I heard of young kids engage in stealing but they are not from here.),” he said.  As a resident of the island, he said, it is also his responsibility to protect it together with other residents who are concerned with their own safety and the tourists’ as well.

John, also a native of the island who is always seen talking to security personnel of business establishment said Boracay needs to be taken care of all the more today.  “Di lang sa mga ganyan ganyang krimen pero pati na pud sa environment.  Importante din ang pangalagaan ang kalikasan (Besides protecting it from crime, the environment also needs protection.),” he said.  He refers to business development as more structures are being erected, making the beaches more commercial and congested.  “Dapat may responsibilidad din sila (They have responsibility too.).”

 Mimi Barros, a habitué of the island’s pristine beaches from Batan, Aklan assures that “for as long as police authorities, residents and business operators join forces to safeguard the island, it will continue to have a positive note from tourists”.  “There is a reason celebrate because of the latest recognition.  But with it comes a more serious call for action to make Boracay crime-free, even if it’s petty.  This is to attract more tourists to come,” she said.

Police patrollers continue to trod vigilantly across all stations.  “Mabuti nga ngayon di na sila kumpul-kumpol sa isang mobile (Good to see that they are not sitting comfortably in their mobile vehicle like in a huddle.),” said a frequent visitor.

Some locals believed that the recognition bestowed on Boracay should be a challenge to keep it safe and environmentally sound.