Sand castle construction is back on the beaches of Boracay as the local government unit of Malay, Aklan enacted new environmental guidelines for the revival of the beloved tradition.
Before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) intervened and stopped the sand castles, along with an island-wide shutdown for rehabilitation in 2018, the practice had been a major tourist attraction.
As patrons flock to see sand turn into castles, the builders in Boracay lost a part of their livelihood for years as a result of local authorities lighting their works at night with kerosene.
Today, the castles are booming again — this time adhering to the guidelines imposed by the local environmental unit.
New rules in place
Malay Mayor Floribar Bautista met with DENR representatives in August 2023 to discuss Municipal Ordinance No. 505, and the steps it gave for the restoration of sand castle making.
A large portion of the original ordinance was kept, but other rules were updated to control how the white beach of Boracay is used, staving off potential environmental problems.
Only solar lights are allowed to illuminate the sand castles, as the use of kerosene lamps and other inflammatory materials or chemicals is now prohibited.
Sand castles can only be erected from 10 a.m to 10 p.m, preventing illumination. Builders cannot change places, and the time frame is limited to six builders per area.
Before the current regulations, Municipal Ordinance No. 246 Series of 2007 was the first set of rules on building sand castles in the town.
Economic boost for locals
The Boracay Sandcastle Makers' Association has many members who work as construction workers, fishermen, and small-time traders. These people and their families now have another source of income, thanks to lifting the prohibition.
Sand castle builders can now be identified with their identity cards. The fee for tourists is Php20 to Php50 for photos with sand castles and Php1,000 to P3,000 for customized sand castles.
Sand castle construction involving any fee was outlawed in the 2007 series unless one had a special event permit from the mayor and paid a Php100 regulatory fee.
Resuming the building of sand castles is a step toward the community's economic prosperity as well as the resurrection of a cultural tradition in line with environmentally sensitive and sustainable tourism.
