Putting a high premium on environmental protection

The ongoing massive rehabilitation of Boracay Island will soon be duplicated in Cebu and, possibly, in other tourist destinations in the country. Cebu City South District Representative Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa announced that recovery efforts in the famed Boracay will be replicated in areas across Cebu, such as Mactan Island and Oslob town.

Abellanosa, chairperson of the House committee on natural resources, recently inspected Boracay, together with Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Sec. Virginia Orogo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

We cannot deny the fact that Cebu also has its own share of tourism establishments that are violating environment regulations. For years, these erring resorts manage to operate under the noses of the authorities.

Before any rehabilitation takes effect, local government units, the environment department and other concerned agencies should aggressively go after those resorts that continue to desecrate the environment.

And, of course, authorities should make sure that those violating establishments are being taken to court. It’s not enough for the government to just revoke their permits and close them down.

These resort owners must pay for whatever violations they have committed for abusing the environment. That is why, the government should need to give a lot of weight to the serious and irreparable damage that they have done to the environment.

Any recovery effort, whether in Boracay, Cebu or in other areas, would certainly not be a true rehabilitation if those who have spoiled the environment manage to get away without paying for their crimes.

Therefore, there should be justice if we want to strictly remind everyone that the government has always been seriously putting a high premium on environmental protection.