The Department of Tourism asked the municipality of Malay Aklan to prepare a land use plan for Boracay by December. Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano says that the town officials should not allow any new construction in the island. The island paradise, which has been experiencing over-development without systematic planning, needs a comprehensive land use plan so that various problems on the resort island such as vehicular traffic, squatting and pollution would be reduced. He said that the challenge for Boracay is to balance development and sustainability. To sustain the natural beauty of the island, he asked the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) to allocate funds for restorative programs and technologies aside from exercising its regulatory powers on the island.

About 387,000 foreign and domestic tourists arrived at Boracay in the first seven months of 2007, generating more than P7 billion for the local economy. They also mentioned that despite of the rainy season, occupancy rate at hotels and resorts in the island averaged 70 percent in August, as confirmed by the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. First-class accommodation facilities in the island charge between P3,000 and P15,000 a night. Arrivals are expected to increase in the coming months dueto the opening of direct flights from South Korea to the Kalibo Airport in Aklan.

The DOT is also promoting other islands, such as the Elephant Island in Marinduque and Carabao Island in Romblon, as alternative sites to Boracay.

Cong. Florencio Miraflores believes that Aklan's road to recovery is slow but sure. After his short absence in the height of relief efforts, the congressman is expected to return to office next week and oversee the rehabilitation efforts, particularly in the towns of Kalibo, Numancia and Banga.

Medical health personnel prepare for the re-opening of classes in schools. They warn about the possibility of a surge in cases of leptospirosis, dengue, asthma and tetanus infection. Provincial Health Office (PHO) chief Dr. Myrtle Pelayo anticipates an outbreak on these diseases.The PHO recommended to the Department of Education (DepEd) to require the children to wear protective gear like boots, long-sleeved shirts and long-pants to avoid contracting the said diseases.

The Department of Health (DOH) averted an outbreak of typhoid fever in Ibajay, Aklan through its Center for Health Development (CHD). They employed early check-ups for people suspected to have typhoid fever and proper treatment of drinking water in the area. According to Regional Director Lydia Depra-Ramos, who personally oversaw the operation, the interventions done helped reduce the incidence from 38 cases to one and no additional cases has been reported.

Collaborating with the rural health unit and the hospital staff, the team gave the suspected patients rectal swabs which were sent to Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Manila to confirm their diagnosis.

Together with two sanitary engineers from the Cordillera Administrative Region and CARAGA Region, the team also collected water samples from the area. Findings revealed that all water sources of the town is contaminated with coliform. With this in mind, the DOH promptly advised the Association of Barangay Captains to instruct the town's people not to drink water that is not treated with chlorine or boiled.

Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo hopes to build a flood control dam at the Aklan River to minimize the effects of heavy flooding. He urges the national government to hasten its construction. According to him, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will help in the construction of the proposed project, headed by Aldo Mayor. The department will also help in the cleaning and enhancement of the town's drainage system.

The poposed project is expected to benefit the people living in the towns of Banga, Kalibo, and Numancia. Since the flood waters ravaged several barangays of Kalibo, namely Tinigaw, Mobo, Bakhaw Sur, Bakhaw Norte and the town proper, the project is expected to be completed before the start of the rainy season to avoid another flash flood. It was noted that the flood claimed the lives of 5 poeple and injured more than 100.

The Department of Enviroment and National Resources fears that Aklan may face another disaster if another big storm hits. According to Provincial Environment Officer Raul Lorilla, there are still enough mud on the mountainous areas of Aklan that can be eroded if another storm comes. There is still a possibility that the flood will carry mud to the lowlands again.
As of now, the DENR and LGU Aklan are requesting the Philippine Air Force to survey the mountainous areas of Libacao and Madalag.

Also, the Department of Health was alarmed that there were several cases of Leptospirosis and Tetanus in the province. 48 cases of Leptospirosis heve been diagnosed and 3 of them has already expired. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Myrtle Pelayo advised the people to be more careful about their health and avoid getting cut or injured. She warns the people not to wade in the flood waters and the mud especially if they have open wounds, and about only drinking clean water.

Locals from the town of Ibjay also reported suspected cases of Thypoid fever and several has already been hospitalized. They were advised to sterilize their drinking water.

Frank=Carnage. Describe Kalibo now and it is in carnage. A lot of people lost their lives and property. After the flood, I was still in Iloilo in our apartment. I was really happy because we were safe here, but I was also worried about what happened back home. When I received a message that the flood in Kalibo was very high, I panicked and wanted to go home so I rushed to the mall to buy some supplies. Water was scarce and most of the candles and canned goods were gone. The line to the cashier was a mile and I waited for almost an hour. After that, I went to the terminal and it was pure carnage down there. But I never dared to take a picture because I told myself that I must save my batteries.
The bus waited in the terminal for an eternity because the ticket man came from Estancia. After the long wait, we finally chugged to Kalibo. The highway to Dingle from Pototan was wrecked so we had to use the old provincial road via Dingle proper, and boy was it wrecked. Most of the crops were decimated by the mud, it seemed like lahar just poured all over. Also in Dueñas, the mud and the destruction was disheartening. Most of the sugar canes and other crops were destroyed. The same can be said in the neighboring city of Passi. The rice fields in Sapian and Mambusao became in-land lakes and people had to use boats to get around. It was already dark when our bus crossed the border to Aklan. Altavas seemed to be fine but I'm not so sure because the bus did not pass though the town proper. But when we passed by the town of Balete, I started to wonder how much devastation did Kalibo have. I saw power lines and trees on the road especially near the town of Banga.
A few minutes later, the bus finally arrived at Kalibo. I saw several buses stuck on the terminal and they said the flood was so high that the water got to their engines. When I arrived at our block, I had to walk several meters through cold mud. I did not know if anybody was still in our block because it was pitch black. And after several loud calls outside, they finally opened the door. It was messy and muddy inside but I was glad to see everybody was fine.
In the morning, I started to survey the damage in our house. I saw the water line inside and it was about six feet. I later decided to start taking snapshots of my battered town. Walking around town through the slippery mud, I managed to take several photos. And here they are.

Welcome to Kalibo.

Water line. I took this photo on the day after I went back home.

Outside our house. Mud everywhere.

In some parts, the mud was up to 5 inches deep.

The flood was so high nobody was spared. You can even see the water marks on the glass window.

The Cathedral held only one mass last Sunday, it was still muddy both inside and outside.

Lonely bench, Pastrana Park.

Torn flags at the plaza.

School's out.

People living near the river were greatly affected. Most of their property was destroyed and many lost their homes and livestock.


Asphalt + mud= a very slippery road. I witnessed some riders falling off their scooters.


A Hilux struggles for grip on the slippery road.


The line for petrol had never been this long.


When I passed by this place I saw Blass (the old man) crying. Most of his property was destroyed.


The wind was so strong that it made the bamboo bend so much and even ripped off the roof of my aunt's house.


The Aloha has already withstood many storms. None of which made it bend, except this one.




Flood victims waited in line for relief goods. Father and son watched as other members of their family went to fall in line.


The MMDA helped jumpstart the mud clean-up.


U.S. Navy ships off the coast of Panay. Choppers flew from these ships carrying relief goods to the mainland.


Cardinal Sin's monument fell down in New Washington.


The Philippine Army gave water away to the people, but the brother of the "mee-your" (mayor-that's how he pronounces it) scolded them because he said the water still needed to be counted for inventory.


A chopper flew over Tangalan to deliver relief goods. Too bad it took-off before I reached the landing site.


People clearing up the fallen tree


Magsaysay Park. The two trees that fell in the background were veterans of other storms. They have been standing there ever since I can remember.

These are just a few images of the mayhem that I witnessed. I'll be posting more pictures including those from other affected areas in Aklan...^^