THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned tourists in Boracay against making reservations in establishments which have not yet received government clearance to operate.
DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said establishments found violating would be closed. An 11-day dry run opening of Boracay would be undertaken starting today, Oct. 15, to Oct. 25, before the island finally opens on Oct. 26.
“We will be monitoring a lot of things, from managing the entrance, exit, and stay of the tourists, to enforcing rule of law on establishments that have been found to be non-compliant to laws and regulations,” Mr. Cimatu said.
“We will not hesitate to close hotels and other establishments that would operate without clearance from the BIATF (Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force),” he added.
DENR will deploy 30 enforcers to check on the tourist island’s water quality, solid waste management, drainage and sewage systems, and occupation on forest areas and wetlands.
Among the requirements for these establishment are that they operate their own sewage systems, especially those along the beachfront, and a zero-waste policy which means all waste in the island should be carried and transported outside.
“We are trying to correct the mistakes of the past and we have succeeded in finding a solution to cleaning the environment. We do not want to backslide on what we have started,” Mr. Cimatu said. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

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