Boracay will be great again!
BORACAY will be great again!
How Krah-Pipes are helping to rebuild a paradise island.
History to reminisce of the Famous Tourism Island …….
Boracay Island about 40 years ago was a very virgin and pristine place. It is located off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas Region in the Philippines. The island is approximately seven (7) kilometer long, in a dog-bone shape with the narrowest spot being less than one (1) kilometer wide and a has a total of 10.32 square kilometers. On the east coast of the island, strong winds make the Bulabog a hub for water sports. Offshore, coral reef and shipwrecks are home to diverse marine life. In the 1970s, Boracay had been discovered to be a great destination for local tourists and some foreign nationals who had been brought to the island to relax after enjoying the Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, one of the municipalities in the Panay Island noted for the Sto. Niño Festivities. Even in 1970s, the place had been one of the locations for filming movies, best choice for budget backpacker tourists and location area for TV Ads filming. In the 1990s, the Boracay beaches were acclaimed as the best in the world and this was the beginning of Boracay’s full tourism development under the Management of the Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority of the Department of Tourism.
I saved Boracay
The ILL EFFECTS OF THE FULL TOURISM DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT in Boracay
The influx of several developments like bars, restaurants and hotels in the island paved the way of its worsening condition as it is today. In 1997, the island was invaded with coliform bacteria primarily because of the poor sewage and septic system which led to the installation of potable water supply system, a sewage treatment plant and a solid waste disposal system operated by the Philippine Tourism Authority. Unfortunately, the environmental concerns persisted and worsened due to the noncompliance of several business establishments surging and mushrooming in the Island and along the 50 meter easement zone area. During the Presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she declared Boracay a Special Tourism Zone in 2005 and in 2006; she gave Philippine Tourism Authority full administrative control over the island while mandating the agency to coordinate with the provincial government of Aklan. However, the continuous entrance of more and more business establishments discarding local ordinances on the proper drainage, sewer and solid waste management systems made the island more of a chronic sanitation concern.
It was no less than the present administration of President Duterte that gave more attention and focus on the sanitation of the island to protect and preserve the place, more so protect the health of the tourists. In February 2018, the President ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to resolve the issue and order the full closure of the island for about six (6) months to rehabilitate thereby resolve the environmental issues surrounding Boracay for the health benefits of the local folks and the tourists.
Public Announcement of the project- target day 26OCT18
In August 2018, many national an international newspapers and magazines had titles like “Boracay rebuilds drainage system with latest technology. The department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is using German technology in building the new drainage system of Boracay Island”. And yes, it the latest system for this application and the origin is Germany – but produced in the Philippines by Krah-Pipes Manila, Dasmarinas, Cavite. The DPWH Secretary Mark Villar was very proud presenting the main advantages to the newspapers; like short installation time, long life time, resistant against earth movement, etc.
So Krah faced this great challenge to fulfill the high expectations to do a proper drainage, sewer and waste disposal systems is a great very short time with Krah Pipes. This is one major milestone where Krah pipes will be fully tested by the local government to address this worsening condition of the island and preserve as the best beach haven in the world.
Krah pipes fit best for the sewer and drainage system application in Boracay since the profiled Krah pipes had been used for more than 35 years in many countries around world and recently, Krah offers modern sewer pipe system, the best business solution system for Boracay. The pipes can be installed in long length and in very narrow roads, the light weight system can be handled and installed easy all over the islands.
Little streets with big pipes
The long-lasting jointing is done by the integrated electro-fusion joint.
In the case of Boracay where the closure is limited to six (6) months only as mandated by President Duterte, the works in progress must likewise be quick and fast which Krah pipes can guaranty because, the production of the pipes and installation will not give so much inconvenience to the public and expose the ground excavation works longer, no curing time is required before back filling the excavated area. Krah´s delivery scope are pipes larger than DN/ID800 mm. These pipes can be pre-fabricated up to 18 meters before installing.
Where the pipes are produced?
In the year 2016 a complete new plant for Krah-Pipes where setup in Dasmarinas / Cavite, Philippines. It is one of the newest and most modern plants worldwide. Visitors a positive surprised how clean and environmental friendly pipes can be produced and how important the quality of the products is. Krah-Pipes manila Inc. got approved from many authorities and the BRS. All pipes are produced out of 100% virgin material called polyethylene high density PE100 (black), and the material is checked continuously.
Production of Krah-Pipes at the Krah plant in the Philippines
Today, the plant can produce 2.500 tons of Material per year in pipes from the diameter DN/ID500 up to DN/ID2500 mm, in the 2nd Quarter of 2019 the production capacity in Cavite will be doubled. And the maximum pipe diameter will reach DN/ID4000mm. Starting in 2019, the pipes will all have a yellow – inspection friendly co-extruded inside surface. Beside the pipe production itself, the company has an extensive fabrication area, where all kind of fittings and manholes are produced. Also, large storage tanks for chemicals, water, etc. can be produced – but the main application is still drainage and sewage system.
Boracay is an island – how the pipes reach the island?
Dasmarinas, Cavite is in the mainland with no direct sea port, so all pipes where send by truck to Papangas and loaded to a barge – the complete barge is pulled to the island of Boracay.
The barge for Krah-Pipes
Then after the pipes reached the island, the pipes are transported by little, “not heavy”, trucks to the construction site. Here the big advantage of light weight pipes and a high toughness of them is priceless for this place. Not even 1% of the pipes are damaged before installation. No other pipe material can beat the fantastic resistance of Krah Polyethylene Pipes.
The pipes can be unloaded and transported by light weight equipment directly on the shore site.
Unloading the barge at Boracay
After the pipes reached the site, the installation starts immediately – to keep the very narrow time frame.
Transporting large Krah-Pipes with light equipment
The customer is controlling, continuously.
The end client, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is controlling continuously the construction site, but also the pipe production itself – in Dasmarinas – to be sure that the project is done properly.
Eng. of DPWH – during checking of the QC
Two district engineers are checking the quality control (stiffness test) at the plant and the production itself. During the very extensive check of the QC-system, the engineers were impressed of the very strong pipe. They saw even an untypical deformation test of 40% ! The pipes will not be installed under these conditions on Boracay, but it showed how strong they are and that they are made also for the “big one” – in Europe the pipes passed several test for ground movements and earth quakes.
Eng. of DPWH – checking the Krah-Pipes production
During the company tour, they saw a very clean and “quite” production, with low waste and no emission – so it is a very green technology. We saw the advantage of a long life-time product for infrastructure, compared to plastic waste.
Manholes
Today in Boracay, still the manholes are produced out of concrete – but Krah Pipes has already presented a solution in PE, what is worldwide successfully used since decades. But we are still convincing the engineers to consider this solution. Already several manholes are installed in the Philippines, with good results (especially the installation speed).
Krah-Pipe with a concrete manhole
The installation time of a concrete manhole is approx. 2 days, so our solution is a very good alternative with a jointing time of 30 min.
Conclusion
For time critical projects – like the one in Boracay – all components should be done out of Krah-Pipes. Krah Pipes are available from DN/ID400 mm up to DN/ID5000 mm, including all fittings, manholes and a superb and worldwide proved jointing method. We are proud, to be a part of the rebuilt of Boracay, to give back our social responsibility to the nature and to create a sustainable paradise island and income for the Philippines.
Remember: Not every large diameter polyethylene Pipe is a Krah-Pipe ! If you want good quality, take Krah-Pipes for your projects and you will have no headaches!
The tourist can come back – happy and safe