Malay Seeks Cityhood: A Step Toward Elevating Boracay’s Administrative Role
The town of Malay in Aklan province, best known as the home of Boracay Island, is pressing ahead with plans to convert from a first-class municipality into a component city. The push, championed by Rep. Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores of Aklan’s second district, was the centerpiece of a public consultation held on Monday, Oct. 6. Local officials say cityhood would formalize Malay’s role as a major tourism and economic gateway not only for Aklan but for the Philippines’ tourist sector at large.
What the Proposal Seeks
House Bill No. 4415, explained by Miraflores in his explanatory note, proposes reclassifying Malay from a first-class municipality to a component city within Aklan. The bill argues that Malay already operates like a city in practice, thanks to Boracay’s global draw and the municipality’s deep contributions to tourism revenues, employment, and national economic growth. In his remarks, Miraflores highlighted how Boracay’s fame translates into billions of pesos in annual income for the province, sustaining thousands of livelihoods and supporting broader economic activity.
A Century-Long Evolution: From Municipality to Potential City
Malay’s status has evolved since it was created as a municipality under Republic Act No. 381, back when Aklan was part of Capiz province. The road toward cityhood has been long and incremental. Local leaders floated studies and resolutions as early as 2010, with an ad hoc committee formed by the Sangguniang Bayan to evaluate cityhood prospects. A similar push resurfaced in 2014, but neither momentum nor legislative action culminated in a conversion at that time.
In 2019, the town again signaled its ambition when then-acting and later-incumbent Mayor Frolibar Bautista issued an executive order to establish a technical working group. The group coordinated with national agencies and other LGUs to assess the prerequisites for becoming a city. The effort picked up in the 2020s, with former Rep. Teodorico “Ted” Haresco Jr. filing a bill in 2021 to formalize Malay’s cityhood bid. Miraflores’ current version, refined in this year’s Congress, suggests that Malay already meets the criteria outlined in a 2022 law amending the Local Government Code to accommodate city conversions.
Economic and Social Implications
Advocates argue that attaining city status would unlock greater administrative autonomy, potential fiscal options, and more robust funding mechanisms for development projects. The cityhood would likely streamline planning for Boracay’s continued tourism management, coastal infrastructure, environmental protection, and disaster resilience—areas critical to maintaining growth while safeguarding the island’s ecological and cultural assets.
Critics and observers, meanwhile, may scrutinize the long-term financial sustainability, governance capacity, and potential shifts in political dynamics. Cityhood typically comes with enhanced oversight, expanded budgetary allocations, and a more complex municipal administration. Supporters contend that Malay’s existing scale—anchored by Boracay and a broad tourism network—creates a strong case for upgrading to a city that can better coordinate regional development, attract investments, and deliver improved public services to residents and visitors alike.
What Comes Next?
With Miraflores’ bill now under discussion, the next steps involve committee reviews, public hearings, and voting in both chambers of Congress. If approved, the measure would move toward certification by the President and eventual local implementation, subject to referenda or other legal requirements dictated by national law and the Local Government Code amendments. The Malay community, through town officials and residents who participated in public consultations, remains engaged in the process, underscoring a shared aspiration to elevate Malay’s status while preserving Boracay’s character as a premier tourism destination.
Why This Matters for Aklan and the Philippines
Malay’s cityhood could serve as a blueprint for other tourism hubs seeking enhanced governance and funding mechanisms. As Boracay continues to attract millions of visitors annually, the administrative upgrade could help manage growth, sustain livelihoods, and support national efforts to diversify and strengthen the country’s tourism economy. The balance between development, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation will be central to the city’s ongoing discourse.
