815 Sinkholes Found in Boracay, DENR-MGB Warns Possible Collapse

The local government of Boracay Island was advised to observe its “carrying capacity” as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) identified 815 sinkholes as of 2021-2022, MGB Geosciences Division Chief Mae Magarzo said in a media forum via a report of the Philippine News Agency on Dec. 12.

The number of sinkholes in Boracay has increased from 789 in 2018 to 801 in 2019 and 814 in 2020, based on the Karst Subsidence Hazard Mapping. These sinkholes are spread across the three barangays of the island.

To avoid buildings collapsing, it is recommended that structures should not be established in highly susceptible areas. It is also advised to “lessen the weight” of structures, particularly for one-story buildings, as recommended by DENR.

A 2018 DENR–Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau study showed that the popular tourist destination has a carrying capacity of 19,215 tourists, which is equivalent to 6,405 visitors per day. To avoid reaching its critical level, the current daily average arrival per day must not exceed 6,085. However, the number of tourists exceeded the carrying capacity, reaching 15,836 per day, as Boracay’s total population carrying capacity was only 54,945 in 2018.

Meanwhile, Malay, Aklan Mayor Floribar Bautista asked about the intensity and sizes of the sinkholes as their local government unit had not received reports regarding it during the six-month rehabilitation project of Boracay in 2018, according to a report of GMA News Online yesterday.

“Gaano ba kalaki ang mga sinkhole na 'yan? Makakaapekto ba? Kasi matagal na 'yung mga structure diyan. Never akong may narinig na report ever since, na mayroon sa Boracay... Mayroong nag-crack dahil nga sa sinkhole,” Bautista was quoted as saying.

(Just how big are those sinkholes? Will they affect us? Because the infrastructure has been there for so long. Also, I never heard a report of an establishment that developed cracks because of the sinkhole.)

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in response that she would "defer [her] statement on that first to the DENR and the MGB while [they] wait for an official report from our regional DOT office."

The study for the updated carrying capacity is expected to be released next year, DENR regional executive director Livino Duran said.