DENR’s Crackdown on Philippine Beach Destinations
It’s been a crazy two weeks as far as beach vacations and the country’s prime beach destination goes. People have been asking about what has been happening and what will happen, and, to be honest, we’re still not 100% sure if what has been said will actually happen.
Boracay, the country’s premier beach destination, has been under the microscope as of late. There are talks of closing off the island and putting it under a state of emergency. To date, people have asked resorts if their reservations are still good and the general response has been positive.
Treat this as your way of keeping up with what’s been happening to Boracay and other beach destinations (Panglao Island, Coron, El Nido, and Puerto Galera).
The story so far
STILL THE BEST ISLAND? Boracay has been called the world’s best island by Conde Nast Traveler several times, but environmental issues have hounded it for the past decade./PRIMER FILE PHOTO
Last February 9, 2018, Duterte called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its head, Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu, to clean up the island of Boracay in six months. He called the island a ‘cesspool’, which did not sit well with those living on the island.
This set off a series of events which would hopefully lead to the island’s recovery. Cimatu sent a team of DENR officials to the island to weed out violators. The DENR has since ordered the closure of 51 erring establishments who violated Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004. A further 842 establishments were found to be in violation of Philippine environmental laws.
Recently, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has proposed a six-month state of calamity and a two-month commercial shutdown of the island to hasten rehabilitation efforts. Under R.A. 10121, only the President can declare a state of calamity on any part of the country. The municipal government of Malay, Aklan has also imposed a six-month moratorium on building construction in Boracay starting June 2018, citing unregulated construction of hotels, resorts, and other establishments as part of the island’s problem.
Other island destinations
NOT A CESSPOOL. Alona Beach has been compared to Boracay and is even seen as its heir apparent. This photo was taken in October 2016./PRIMER FILE PHOTO
With Boracay serving as a wake-up call, the DENR crackdown on beach destinations has begun. Panglao Island in Bohol has been considered as an heir to Boracay, and the DENR has taken notice. Last Thursday, Feb. 22, DENR-Region 7 formed their own investigation team to “prevent a similar dilemma that is confronting the world famous Boracay.”
NEXT ON THE LIST. Establishments in Palawan, specifically Coron (left) and El Nido (right), are also being looked at for possible infractions of Philippine Environmental Laws./PRIMER FILE PHOTO and El Nido Boutique and Artcafe
Apart from Panglao, DENR Region 4B (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) has also been mobilized to look into environmental violators in Coron and El Nido, Palawan. Puerto Galera has also been targeted by the DENR crackdown, bringing the special task force for DENR Region 4B to three.
These special task forces were formed to check up on all establishments in the beach destinations and run after any who violate the country’s environmental laws.
Sources: Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessWorld, Rappler, ABS-CBN News, Manila Bulletin, CNN Philippines, DENR
