Boayan Island
Boayan is the largest island in San Vicente, a municipality in the northern part of Palawan province. Boayan Island is on the north-western side of the main island of Palawan. The eastern side of the island faces the mainland barangays, or villages, of San Vicente. To the western side of Boayan Island, on a rugged majestic coastline, the island faces the South China Sea.
Boayan island, for comparison, is larger than Boracay Island and has a number of coves, small bays, and, smaller islands that offer the adventurous locals and tourists a beautiful new scene around every corner.
Boayan Island is 194 kilometers away from the City of Puerto Princesa, to the south of San Vicente. Puerto Princesa is the provincial capitol of Palawan Province and the only city on Palawan Island. The Municipality of San Vicente has a total land area of 82,057 hectares per PCSDS Staff, with a total area of bays and small islands of 165,797.65 hectares per municipal government staff.
San Vicente is characterized by rugged forest terrain and a flat coastal plain ideal for farming, orchards, and tourism development along one of longest beach coastlines in Philippines. It has several islands, Boayan being the largest, in its beautiful coastal areas.
San Vicente has the largest forest cover of any municipality in the Philippines by land area. A look on Google earth will show, while Boayan was once a lush forest, however, after the total log ban of 1992 which ended logging as an industry in Palawan, slash and burn farming and some unrestricted construction has been a problem on the island. A tolerant local government has tried to ensure island residents comply with laws while ensuring leniency and extending understanding to impoverished settlers and in all cases ensuring ordinances and laws are enforced.
False “Save Boayan” Petition:
A single family that operates a small exclusive resort that has yet to comply with environment laws or municipal regulations is believed to be behind this. Through the establishment of a non-governmental organization and a commune-like foundation, with ties to anti-government groups and political figures, has circulated a petition on the internet. They are seeking to seize control of a large portion of the island for their own selfish interest.
The petition which is being spread online is full of what are believed as unfounded allegations and half-truths designed to sensationalize some carefully planned development proposals for tourism growth designed to assure sustainable development of Boayan and ensure its residents’ livelihood.
All development proposals are required by law to pass the strictest scrutiny.
The protection of the environment is both policy and law in the Municipality of San Vicente and all over Palawan.
Tourism Development
Tourism development that is environment-friendly, farming, and fishing are the key elements to a master-planned municipality that is a leader for over 15 years in careful planning and attainable viable development that is in harmony with nature. All development plans and goals carried out in consultation with San Vicente’s residents and the local government of San Vicente as a good steward of the public trust.
San Vicente’s municipal government ensures that all projects, development plans, and goals are transparent and carried out in consultation and approval of the majority of its residents without sacrificing the rights of minority stakeholders while respecting the rule of law and will of the majority of its people. All laws are enforced in accordance with the Constitution of the Philippines, the Local Government Code of Philippines and Republic Act 7611, the Strategic Environment Plan of Palawan – a specific law in place since 1992 that ensures all development in places like Boayan Island is sustainable and environment-friendly.
