Background: Malay’s place in Aklan and the Boracay boom
Nestled on the northern coast of Aklan, the municipality of Malay is best known as the gateway to Boracay Island, one of the world’s premier beach destinations. The town has long functioned as a tourism and economic hub for the province and the region, contributing billions of pesos in annual tourism revenues and sustaining thousands of livelihoods. In recent years, Malay’s leaders have repeatedly explored a path toward cityhood, arguing that the growth trajectory and complexity of local governance warrant elevation from a municipality to a component city.
The case for cityhood: what proponents say
On Monday, Oct. 6, residents gathered for a public consultation centered on House Bill No. 4415, filed by Aklan’s second district Rep. Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores. Miraflores explained that Malay “is a first-class municipality that has long served as one of the Philippines’ foremost tourism and economic gateways.” He stressed that the Boracay tourism cluster acts as a global destination with a broad economic footprint, adding that Malay’s cityhood would formalize governance to better manage resources, plan infrastructure, and sustain local livelihoods.
Miraflores’ explanatory note frames city status as a natural evolution for a municipality that already functions as a key economic artery for Aklan and the country. He noted that Malay “contributes to Aklan’s income of billions of pesos annually through tourism revenues” and plays a significant role in national economic growth. The proposal aims to reclassify Malay from a first-class municipality to a component city within the province of Aklan.
Historical context: attempts and timelines
The road to cityhood for Malay has long been a subject of discussion. Malay’s creation as a municipality traces back to Republic Act No. 381, when Aklan was still part of Capiz province. Efforts to pursue city status began in 2010, when the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) passed a resolution to form an ad hoc committee to study cityhood, though the initiative did not advance. Similar resolutions in 2014 did not bear fruit either.
Momentum resurfaced in 2019, when then-acting and current Mayor Frolibar Bautista issued an executive order creating a technical working group to coordinate with government agencies and other LGUs on the matter. In 2021, former Aklan second district Rep. Teodorico “Ted” Haresco Jr. filed a bill formalizing Malay’s cityhood proposal. The measure lingered through the 18th and 19th Congresses and was revised this year by Miraflores, indicating renewed legislative attention to Malay’s status.
Legal framework: what changes with cityhood
Supporters point to a 2022 amendment to the Local Government Code that clarified the criteria and processes for converting municipalities into cities. Miraflores argues that Malay meets these requirements, arguing that population, income, and service delivery benchmarks align with the law’s provisions. If enacted, Malay would transition from a first-class municipality to a component city, potentially enabling more autonomous budgeting, improved service delivery, and greater access to national development programs.
What happens next: process and public response
Public consultations like the recent session in Malay are part of a broader process that includes formal review by the House of Representatives and, eventually, the signing of any bill into law by the President. Proponents insist that cityhood would better reflect Malay’s growth, strengthen its governance framework, and sustain Boracay’s economic ecosystem. Opponents often raise concerns about the financial viability of new cities, the capacity of local institutions, and long-term fiscal planning.
Miraflores’ office has emphasized that the proposal is not just about prestige but about practical governance—creating a city with enhanced planning and public service delivery, capable of addressing traffic management, environmental protection, waste management, and social services more effectively in a tourism-driven economy.
Outlook: a turning point for Malay and Aklan
As Malay presses forward with the cityhood bid, observers note that its outcome could influence how other fast-growing municipalities in the Philippines approach modernization and governance. The Boracay effect—already a powerful economic driver—could be harnessed within a stronger, city-status framework to support sustainable development, inclusive growth, and resilient tourism beyond the island’s borders. The coming weeks and months will reveal whether the House will pass the measure, and whether Malay can translate ambition into a formal new chapter in its municipal narrative.
