DENR issues notices to 448 Central Visayas establishments

CEBU CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Visayas through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) issued notices of environmental violations to 448 establishments in Panglao Island in Bohol and Dauin town in Negros Oriental.

DENR Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales said notices were issued after the initial assessment and inventory done by the Regional Foreshore Area Task Force covering five barangays in Panglao and Dauis towns in Bohol.

Gonzales said the Notices of Violations (NOVs) will be issued this week to 87 establishments in Panglao found encroaching into the 20-meter easement zone.

EMB also issued notices to 321 establishments in Panglao and 30 in Dauin that were operating without discharge permits, Gonzales added.

He said the report of the composite team revealed that majority of the structures found within the easement in Panglao are concrete pathways, native cottages, residential cottages, concrete stairs, swimming pools and seawalls.

“We will issue notices to these establishments and they will be given enough time to comply and conduct voluntary clearing of the structures,” Gonzales said.

He added that these are initial findings, and EMB will complete the delineation and assessment of the entire Panglao island in partnership with the local government units.

Gonzales said EMB, along with the Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), had a mass technical conference that required establishment owners to secure permits such as the discharge permit, permit to operate and register as Hazardous Waste Generator.

Gonzales said he will do his best to implement the EMB’s mandate to protect and conserve the environment of Panglao, Mactan Island, Bantayan Island, among other popular beach destinations in Central Visayas.