DENR urges relocation of El Nido informal settlers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling for the immediate relocation of informal settlers along the coasts of El Nido in Palawan, one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the local government in Palawan has issued a final notice to vacate to 24 families who have built houses along Corong Corong Beach in El Nido.

DENR said the houses of the informal settlers are built on stilts and sit directly above water of Corong Corong Bay and waste disposal goes directly into the sea.

“These have a significant effect on the water quality in the immediate area around the houses. Aside from the fact that they do not have toilets, they are also encroaching on the easement zone, so we hope to move them to a new location soon,” Cimatu said.

“We are working closely with the local government to ensure that the relocation site for these informal settlers is prepared as soon as possible,” he added.

Apart from informal settlers, the DENR also issued notices to vacate to 32 businesses, including resorts and restaurants, which were found to have structures falling inside the easement zone.

El Nido is also facing issues on degrading water quality and inadequate sewerage facilities.

Task Force El Nido is inspecting over 200 establishments for compliance with environmental laws and is coordinating with other stakeholders to protect and ensure the sustainability of El Nido as an ecotourism destination.

Just last January, the Protected Area Management Board of El Nido-Taytay Protected Area passed a resolution that limits tourist entry and activity in three of the most visited places in El Nido.

In the Big Lagoon, only 60 guests will be allowed at any one time or a maximum of 720 guests a day. In the Small Lagoon, a maximum of 30 guests will be allowed at any one time or a total of 360 persons each day. For the Secret Beach, only 12 visitors will be allowed at any one time or a total of 144 a day.

Limits on the number of conveyances have also been set – maximum of five boats in the anchorage area and 30 kayaks inside the Big Lagoon; 15 kayaks inside the Small Lagoon and two boats in the anchorage area of Secret Beach.

According to the report of the El Nido Municipal Tourism Office, tourist arrival in the town has increased by more than 30 percent annually in the last three years, with last year reaching almost 200,000 visitors.

El Nido is part of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, a 90,321-hectare key biodiversity area. – With Rhodina Villanueva