24 Establishments Illegally Connected to Drainage System in Boracay
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu appeared in a press conference on Wednesday evening to present a list to the media. The list contained the 24 establishments and locations that were found illegally connected to Boracay island’s drainage system.
“Their wastes are directly going to the drainage without passing by the sewage,” Cimatu said.
The DENR found 12 violators from March 21 until April 17 including the New Guard Enterprises, area beside New Guard, Red Coco Inn, Hennan Garden, Red Coconut Beach Resort, Along Azalea, front of Jollibee, Lime Hotel, front of Leylam Shawarma, front of Hanna Tour Hennan Lagoon, front of BDO Crown Regency, and Crown Regency Convention Center.
The second batch of establishments that committed the same offense was found a week later. They include the Red Coconut Hotel, The District, small alley in front of Posco Tour, small alley beside Genko Souvenir Shop, in front of “Space for Rent” beside Guest Lounge, in front between “Space for Rent” and Guest Lounge, small alley in front of proposed five-storey building beside guest lounge, in front of Guilius Boracay, infront between Zen Room and Guilius Boracay, in front of Zen Room beside Guilius Boracay, in front of JJ Resort, and the front between JJ Resort and Sun World Resort.
These establishments will be reported to the Pollution Adjudication Board of DENR according to Cimatu. If found guilty, they can face a fine as high as PHP200,000 per day.
“If they reach two to three months, they will pay for that,” Cimatu said.
The tourist island will be shut down for six months starting today, April 26, 2018. This is to start rehabilitation efforts and address its sewerage problems and widespread violation of environmental laws by the establishments.
via Philippine News Agency / Cindy Ferrer
