Senate to propose LGUs, national gov’t co-manage Boracay
SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar is planning to propose a law that would allow both the national and local government to “comanage” the country’s tourist destinations, such as Boracay Island in Aklan, to prevent any regulatory lapses which may result in environmental problems.
“The suggestion was that we would pass a law regarding famous tourist destinations like Boracay. It should be co- managed by the national government and the local,” she said in a radio interview.
“We would create an administration so that if the local [ government] makes mistakes, the national government will check… so that there will be checks and balances,” she added.
Ms. Villar’s statement came after Friday’s findings that some establishments on Boracay Island operated without an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Malay, Aklan Mayor Ciceron S. Cawaling has said the local government issued its permits independently from the DENR. This was contrary to the statements of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer- in- charge Eduardo M. Año that ECC was among the requirements in securing building permits, especially in protected areas like Boracay.
Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo also testified that the agency could not intervene in Boracay’s environmental problems because tourism development has been devolved to the local government.
Ms. Villar stressed the importance of the country’s famous tourist attractions such as Boracay, where failure to maintain the environment could deter international visitors.
“We should not neglect our tourist attractions as famous as Boracay because it will ruin the Philippines in the eyes of the tourists. The long-term viability of Boracay will depend on control,” she said.
Boracay Island brought in P56 billion worth of revenue for the government and attracted two million tourists in 2017, according to DoT.
Ms. Villar added that businesses establishments violating the 30- meter shoreline easement rule may only face partial demolition. Meanwhile, buildings constructed in the island’s wetlands, the senator said, should be completely removed.
“Those in the wetlands are the problem. They have to demolish that… If they will not demolish, the government has no choice but to step in,” she said.
DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu earlier said that five of Boracay’s nine wetlands have disappeared in the past 10 years after informal settlers and businesses, such as Seven Seas Hotel, D’Mall and Kingfisher Hotel, occupied the areas. —