I agree 100 % with Bura. I also would like to see all the mickey-mouse squatter-type of resorts replaced by Shangri-La's!

Resorts below 5 hectares should not be allowed in this small island.

Elitist Mr mastur, shut down all the cosy small resorts that have been here since the beginning of tourism in Boracay and replace them with huge anonymous and hideously expensive concrete buildings...

Squatters are not good, I agree, but you'll be in the minority if you wish to force out all small businesses in the island. They are its charm.

Well I think there's room for both.

The problem is the lack of control over development and planning.

Turning White Beach into Daytona Beach would be a huge mistake.

Its not the answer.

It would be as sterile as a hospital ward and about a visually appealing.

About the elitism comment-no comment.

Each of us likes what we like.

I think Key West with its building /height restrictions is a h*ll off a lot nicer than Daytona Beach.

small business is what makes the Philippines a great country, giving jobs to many of us....

"Boracay West Cove Resort, now making waves in the tourism industry as “Pacquiao’s Resort,” will be the object of a congressional investigation for allegedly being constructed in a “no-build zone” atop a coral reef.

In a resolution filed Monday, Aklan Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores asked the House Committees on Natural Resources and on Ecology to investigate the accusations made by local officials in Malay town that West Cove was built in a “no-build zone” on Boracay Island.

Local folk in Boracay have tagged West Cove as “Pacquiao’s Resort,” believing that it is owned by the Filipino boxing idol who is slated to fight Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in another sensational boxing match in Las Vegas on Nov. 15 (Manila time).

In Resolution 1470, Miraflores said residents and resort owners of the world-famous Boracay island in Malay municipality have expressed strong objections over the construction of the resort on Sitio Diniwid.

“Boracay West Cove Resort is owned by a certain Mr. Crisostomo Aquino who is allegedly a close friend of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza,” claimed Miraflores.

He said that “despite alleged violations of ordinances barring structures on ‘no-build zones,’ the resort continues to operate even without permits from the municipality of Malay and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).”

Miraflores claimed Aquino had admitted that the resort has a pending application for Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAG-T) at the DENR,” thus, clearly indicating that he is still barred from constructing or operating the resort.

If finally released by the DENR, the FLAG-T permit would allow West Cove to temporarily use a total of 10,586 square meters for tourism for a period of 25 years and renewable for another 25 years.

“The area includes forest lands to be used for bathing, campsites, ecotourism destination and hotel sites which could pose potential environmental hazards and put to waste the efforts and resources of the residents to rehabilitate and save Boracay’s environment,” the Aklan solon explained.

Despite the protest, the West Cove management has already opened the resort to the public.

Pacquiao and wife, Jinkee, visited the place twice in the past. The first visit was when the popular fighter and his wife had an alleged spat, and the second was a few months before Mrs. Pacquiao gave birth to their youngest child, Queen Elizabeth.

While he admitted that Pacquiao is a close friend, Crisostomo vehemently denied that the resort is owned by the boxing hero, stressing that people suspected Pacquiao to be the owner of the place because of the latter’s visits.

Crisostomo and Atienza would be summoned by the House committees to air their side on the issue. "

From aklanforum

Good post.

Sounds good and I am surprised on congressman's move. That means, the owner of West Cove has not (yet) contributed to congressman's election fund. Meanwhile Atienza has nothing to fear, except some media coverage, as he will resign in a few weeks. And also the lower house will soon (after the fight in Las Vegas, where 50% are now) focus on elections.

West cove have nothing to fear, because illegal resorts and those violating the regulations are never given more then a slap on the wrist and a fine. They are never demolished.

Mind you, another typhoon like Seniang and the whole thing may well be washed away by the sea anyway!

Some members of the local council wanted to see West Cove and the alleged violations yesterday, but weren't allowed inside, even with the police with them. The locals feel offended and want to create an ordinance, which would declare the area where West Cove built and other similar areas as 'dangerous no built areas' and include it in the zoning plan.