Clean and save Boracay – DU30; no-build zone extended – DENR

PRESIDENT Duterte has ordered the cleanup of Boracay and the penalizing of erring local officials and businessmen responsible for its environmental problems.

Ye s , t i m e t o s p e e d i l y l a u n c h ‘Save Boracay’ before the premiere resort sinks totally.

*** Likewise, to save the worldrenowned island from further degradation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has extended its no-build zone for establishments to 30 meters from the shoreline, and called for an inter-agency meeting this week to resolve various issues.

Multi-pronged measures to save Boracay needed ASAP.

*** Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said all concerned should not take lightly President Duterte’s threat to shut down Boracay if its environmental woes are not addressed in six months.

“Let’s wait for six months because the President’s mandate to Secretary Cimatu is to give him a recommendation after six months,” Roque added.

*** Meanwhile, the DENR said the current 25-meter no-build zone easement will be extended by five meters to cover all establishments in the beachfront of the island and “there should be no structure there.”

No greed, no encroachment into the shoreline.

*** ”This is(also) for their protection. When a strong typhoon hits the island, the shoreline gets blasted by the winds first. They are putting themselves in the danger zone by encroaching on the 25+5 meters easement,” DENR-Western Visayas Regional Director Jim Sampulna explained.

Translation: Never abuse Nature or it will hit back at you!

*** The DENR official said stakeholders met in Kalibo, Aklan last week to tackle issues and “everyone wanted to help fix the hounding issues of Boracay Island.”

They’d better do it before Boracay drops in ranking. *** Sampulna also disclosed that the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) had distributed notices of violation (NOVs) to 51 establishments, which are among the 300 identified by the EMB to have violated environmental requirements.

Environmental compliance a must and should not be forgotten.

*** “We will be calling to address their violations. If they will not shape up, we will be escalating their cases to the Pollution Adjudication Board. The PAB will then decide whether to penalize them or totally close them down,” he added.

Yes, time to penalize environmental violators and greedy resort operators.

*** DENR Undersecretary for Policy Planning Jonas Leones said an inter-agency meeting will be conducted this week to address the problems affecting Boracay Island, as raised by President Duterte himself.

Message: Listen to the President. Let’s do something.

*** “We need to discuss details on how to address the problems confronting Boracay Island. Time is running out,” he said.

Yes, hurry! Save Boracay from stinking and sinking!