DENR ready to shut down erring Boracay establishments

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will not hesitate to issue cease and desist orders to some commercial establishments on Boracay Island that fail to comply with environmental laws.

The DENR sent a team to Boracay to look for violations of environmental laws, such as failure to connect to the island’s sewage system, wastewater with excessive effluents, failure to secure or update environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) and illegal construction in forestlands and wetlands.

“We are fast-tracking our processes and we will probably see sanctions handed out before the end of March to businesses that fail to roll out remedial measures to their notices of violation (NOVs),” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

As of Feb. 24, the DENR has issued 181 NOVs to 161 establishments found violating environmental laws and have already surveyed 562 establishments.

Of the 181 NOVs issued, 92 were for violations of the Clean Water Act (expired discharge permits/no discharge permit), 78 for violations of the Clean Air Act (no permit to operate), four for violations of both the Clean Water and Clean Air acts and seven for violations of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (no ECC).

Cimatu promised the DENR will follow due process throughout the operations. 

“Even if we are fast-tracking our investigation processes, we will still follow the rules and will call those with NOVs to a technical conference, where they will need to present their remedial measures,” he said.

The businesses will then be given ample time to implement the remedial measures that were agreed upon.

“If they fail to comply after that time, they could face closure, fines or a cease and desist order, once we elevate their case to the Pollution Adjudication Board,” Cimatu warned.

Cimatu clarified the DENR is not against business, but it is looking after the interests of the environment and the real residents of Boracay.

“To be fair, there are businesses that have successfully complied and rectified their violations. The point here is they have to comply with environmental laws. If they can’t comply, they have no business having business there,” he said.

“We are bent on completing on time President Duterte’s directive to clean up and rejuvenate Boracay in six months,” he added.

The DENR is also calling for a moratorium on tourist arrivals, reclamation of wetlands and forestlands in the island and the completion of solid waste disposal and sewerage infrastructure, among others.