Put up sewage treatment plants, Boracay firms told

It is now mandatory for establishments in Boracay to put up their respective sewage treatment plants (STPs), according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a memorandum released recently, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said hotels, resorts and similar establishments with 50 rooms and above should have their own STP while those with 49 rooms and below should have a clustered if not a separate STP.

“The establishments... must have their treatment plant. There’s no other solution,” Cimatu said.

He said establishments that would fail to comply with the order would be issued notices of violation or closure orders.

Cimatu said resort owners could seek assistance from companies setting up sewage treatment plants or consult with Boracay’s water suppliers – Boracay Island Water Co. and Boracay Tubi Systems Inc. – to address their sewage and waste water problems.

Cimatu said they decommissioned Boracay Water’s sewage pipeline for violating the 25 plus five-meter easement rule and no-build zone along the shoreline.

“The sewer pipeline goes under sea water during high tide and habagat season, add to the contamination and pose health hazards to residents and tourists,” Cimatu said.

The DENR also ordered Boracay’s water companies to expand the capacity of their STPs when the island reopens in October.

Boracay’s total STP capacity is only 12 million liters per day when the wastewater to be treated is at 15 million liters.

More than 200 big establishments are also not connected to sewer lines.

The water quality is one of the reasons why Boracay was closed to tourists for six months.