80% of Lapu-Lapu resorts, hotels meet quality standards

CEBU, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City is confident that it will not suffer the same fate as Boracay, as its hospitality sector is now 80 percent compliant with environmental standards.

Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Council head Hembler Mendoza made this assurance following President Rodrigo Duterte’s warnings against resort destinations around the country to step up in their environmental compliance, or else they will have to suffer the consequences, like what happened to Boracay.

Duterte said his government is serious in looking after destinations whose facilities are not environmentally compliant or have been neglecting laws and policies.

Of the 80 hotels and resort establishments operating under the jurisdiction of Lapu-Lapu City, about 80 percent is already compliant, said Mendoza.

With the help of the Lapu-Lapu government initiated task force, establishments are able to accelerate their programs for compliance.

According to Mendoza, the task force, or a team that conducts a thorough appraisal of the establishments’ compliance noted a proactive move from the hotels/resorts on this particular requirement.

Definitely, Mendoza said Lapu-Lapu City will be spared from non-compliant consequences, and tourism sector stakeholders have nothing to worry about.

In his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte stressed that the “environmental protection and ensuring the health of the Filipinos cannot be overemphasized; thus, actions in Boracay marked the beginning of a new national effort.”

Duterte warned that Boracay’s story is just the beginning. Other tourist destinations needing urgent rehabilitation and enforcement of environmental and other laws shall soon follow.

“I urge our local government units to proactively enforce our laws and not wait for us to swoop down on your areas just to do your duty and work,” Duterte said in the SONA.

Lapu-Lapu’ s environment task force is composed of local tourism officials, city health officials, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro). The team goes around the island to inspect and evaluate properties.

In May this year, waste water facility provider, Mactan Rock Industries Inc., (MRII) collaborated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to inspect the existing waste-water facilities of establishments on Mactan Island.

A task force was created to study and help establishments to comply with environmental standards in short span of time.