THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Tourism (DoT) are set to meet with the mayor of El Nido, Palawan Nieves C. Rosento to inspect the town’s compliance with environmental rules.
DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo M. Año on Monday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered the inspection of all major resort destinations, signalling the possibility of further Boracay-style cleanups.
Mr. Año noted that El Nido is working on complying with easement rules with regard to structures built on the shoreline, but he added that the government has yet to inspect the town’s resorts.
“We have yet to assess and inspect El Nido if they are really going 100% compliant just like what we did to Boracay… I have a forthcoming meeting with the mayor of El Nido together with (Tourism) Secretary Bernadette R. Puyat. We will discuss what to do in El Nido,” he told reporters after the DILG’s Senate budget hearing.
Mr. Año said he received “feedback” about El Nido having illegal sewer pipes dumping sewage in, and has sent a team to inspect the area for possible violations of environmental law.
“Our priority is El Nido and Coron because these are tourist spots and we received feedback that illegal sewer (pipelines) going to the sea are being installed. So we need to fix that,” he said.
Asked if there were other destinations needing shutdowns like Boracay, Mr. Año said it would depend on the condition of the area. He added that rehabilitation may also be performed without a shutdown, which Boracay was subject to for six months.
The former military official also reiterated his proposal to allow tourist destinations, such as Boracay, to have a one-month rest period each year to allow for “natural healing” of the environment there.
Boracay officially reopened on Oct. 26 with the inter-agency committee tasked to strictly enforce a no-casino policy and a limit on visitor carrying capacity. In a recent speech, Mr. Duterte warned local government officials in Palawan to closely monitor the number of visitors to the province to avoid closure like Boracay. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

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