DILG to pounce on El Nido, Coron eco violators

With President Duterte’s go-signal, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will now go after local officials of El Nido and Coron in Palawan, who may have violated environment laws and regulations.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday said the agency will prioritize the two most famous destinations in Palawan, amid its crackdown on erring municipalities and local government officials that resulted in the environmental degradation in tourist spots.

President Duterte earlier ordered local officials and business owners in Palawan to avoid the repeat of the mistakes committed in Boracay Island, such as overcrowding, easement violations, and sewer problems.

He also told them to address power supply disruption in the island province or he will be forced to tap foreign companies, specifically those from China, to solve it.

Speaking to Senate reporters following the hearing on the DILG’s proposed 2019 budget, Año said President Duterte has given him orders related to his pronouncements, and look at other tourist spots in the country for their rehabilitation.

For starters, he said he has received reports that there have been violations of environmental laws in El Nido and Coron.

“May mga feedback tayo na naglalagay doon ng illegal sewer going to the sea. So kailangan makita natin (There have been feedback that illegal sewers going to the sea were set up. So we have to check that),” Año said.

The DILG chief said like in Boracay, inspections will be conducted in the said Palawan municipalities to find out the possible liabilities of the local government, if any.

“We will file cases against these local government officials and recommend preventive suspension,” he said.

Año, however, noted that the local government of El Nido, Palawan has started initiatives to clean up the area following Boracay’s six-month tourism shutdown.

He said demolitions and clearing of the easement in El Nido beaches are ongoing.

He urged other municipalities to follow suit.

“But we have yet to assess and inspect El Nido kung talagang magiging 100-percent compliant sila (if they will really be 100-percent compliant), but that’s already a good sign. I have a forthcoming meeting with the mayor of El Nido, together with [Tourism] Sec. Berna Puyat. We will discuss what we will do with El Nido,” Año said.

Asked about the possible shutdown of the tourist destinations amid the pending rehabilitation like in Boracay, the DILG chief said the closure will depend on the magnitude of environmental degradation and violations, and how the local government will address them.