The Aboitiz group and the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corp. (EDC) join government in rehabilitating the pollution-challenged Boracay Island by adopting two of its nine wetlands.

On Monday, the two companies signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in simple rites held at the DENR central office in Quezon City.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) chief operating officer Sabin Aboitiz and Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (AFI) head Maribeth Marasigan signed for the adoption of Wetland No. 4, a 0.99-hectare rectangular-shaped area located near D’Mall.

Meanwhile, EDC president and chief operating officer Ricardo Tantoco and EDC senior manager for Corporate Social Responsibility and Watershed Management Allan Barcena signed on behalf of EDC for Wetland 2, a 7.78-hectare swampland, under the company’s “Binhi” project on reforestation and biodiversity preservation.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu expressed confidence the partnership with AEV and EDC would hasten and sustain the rehabilitation of Boracay wetlands, which serve a variety of ecological services that are important to the island’s overall well-being.

“It will not be easy for government to do this alone, which is why we thank the private sector for agreeing to undertake the task at practically no cost to the government,” Cimatu said.

The environment chief also urged the adopters not to put up company signs that are commercial or promotional in nature.

“We will limit such signs to those that are informative and educational to help the public appreciate wetlands more,” he said.

According to Cimatu, the rehabilitation of the wetlands will be undertaken in phases and expected to go beyond the island’s scheduled reopening in October.

The closure period, he said, would allow the DENR and the adopters to lay the groundwork for the execution of the designs and programs for the rehabilitation.

Cimatu said each project will be different from each other and have its own character although both will highlight the importance of wetlands.

Under the partnership, the two companies will be responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of eco-engineered structures and facilities to enhance the ecotourism values of the wetlands.

They will assist the DENR in rehabilitation activities such as clearing operations, site preparation, wetlands profiling and management planning, as well as through re-vegetation using appropriate species.

The companies will also support the DENR in mobilizing stakeholders, producing and distributing materials for public awareness and conduct communication, education and public awareness activities to help sustain the conservation not only of the wetlands but of the entire island.

Furthermore, DENR will take the lead in clearing the wetlands of illegal structures and relocate affected dwellers accordingly.

The DENR will guide the companies in the information drive and regularly monitor the accomplishments of the adopters.