Illegal Boracay occupants charged
Nine establishments that occupied protected forestlands in Boracay Island were ordered closed for violation of environmental laws.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu, who also chairs the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), reported the closure in a virtual press conference.
Cimatu was joined by Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año in presenting updates on the Boracay rehabilitation and on the status of the Boracay Island Development Authority bill.
In October and November, the National Bureau of Investigation, BIATF and Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group conducted operations against the nine establishments after reports of violations of Presidential Decree 705 (Revised Forestry Code) and Presidential Decree 1067 (Philippine Water Code).
Cimatu said cases have already been filed against the owners, reportedly six Filipinos, a Belgian, a Filipino-Australian and two Britons.
“This proves that the rule of law is paramount and law enforcement is crucial and non-negotiable,” he said.
On the enforcement of the Easement Law, Cimatu said 249 out of 339 structures or 73 percent have already complied with the 25+5 Meter Easement rule as of November.
Water quality monitoring also continues in the island.
With Boracay COVID-free, tourist arrivals are increasing and we hope this trend continues as the Christmas holidays and summer approach.
“Last month, we have recorded the lowest coliform level at 6.8 most probable number per millimeter from our ambient stations in New Coast Boracay, Movenpick, Steve’s Cliff and beachfront grotto,” Cimatu said.
In July, BIATF recovered Wetland No. 6 in Barangay Manoc-Manoc from illegal occupants.
“Wetlands are important to the island because these help reduce soil erosion and store water to minimize the impacts of flooding. Of the nine wetlands, we have now recovered five,” he added.
To assist displaced workers amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, BIATF also initiated “Boracay Wetland Bayanihan Program: We Clean and Heal as One,” a food-for-work program.
“With Boracay COVID-free, tourist arrivals are increasing and we hope this trend continues as the Christmas holidays and summer approach,” Cimatu said.
The BIATF is likewise studying a moratorium on the demolition of houses along easement zones and on forestland, considering that there is a pandemic and with Christmas day just three weeks away.
“While we understand there is a pandemic, we have to balance law enforcement and people’s welfare, especially if they have nowhere to go,” he added.
DoT, meanwhile, partnered with University of the Philippines- Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) to produce more affordable reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests for non-Aklanon tourists going to Boracay.
RT-PCR kits from UP-PGH currently cost P1,800 each, much lower than those from testing laboratory centers.