Crackdown against Boracay environment violators hailed
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan – Not a few in Boracay, regarded as the country’s premier tourist destination, is hailing indications of a serious crackdown by government against violators of the environment on the island.
Last week, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje Jr. ordered the DENR in Western Visayas (DENR-6) to conduct a thorough inspection of all Boracay hotels, resorts and restaurants.
DENR-6 Regional Director Jim Sampulna said the inspection ordered by Paje, which started last Wednesday, May 6, will check if Boracay establishments have sanitary permits and wastewater treatment facilities.
Establishments without such permits and facilities could face charges and even closure, Sampulna said.
Leading island-based business group, Boracay Foundation Inc. President Dionisio Salme said the crackdown by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is part of a “collective effort” to address growing concerns on water pollution in Boracay.
This summer season, urgent concerns mounted after excessive green algae have emerged, lining from end to end the shoreline of Boracay’s famous White Beach, and scaring both residents and tourists from getting into the water.
Many have attributed the presence of excessive algae to earlier reports of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-6), an attached agency of DENR-6, that Bulabog Beach or Boracay’s back beach is highly polluted with high levels of coliform bacteria in the water.
If the safe standard for swimming is 1,000 most probable number (mpn) per 100 millimeter (ml), Bulabog Beach registered a whopping 47,460mpn/100ml.
Atty. Jonathan Bulos, EMB-6 regional director, earlier clarified that Bulabog Beach is not where tourists swim while the long-stretch of White Beach, on the opposite side of the island, is “very safe” for swimming.
To minimize water pollution, DENR reiterated its appeal to Malay local government under Mayor John Yap to strictly enforce environmental laws. Business permits of violators should be cancelled or withheld, DENR maintains.
“We cannot deny the problems posed by Boracay’s growing tourism. We need to find solutions,” said Department of Tourism Regional Director for Western Visayas, Atty. Helen Catalbas.
“Based on findings of the DENR, Boracay’s White Beach is still safe for swimming. Now, we just need to assure the market that Boracay is still a desirable and safe beach destination,” Catalbas added.