FILE PHOTO: An aerial shot of Boracay Island taken during the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) aerial inspection with members of the UNTV News Team
BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has allowed hotels and resorts on Boracay Island to accept advance booking “by all means” as rehabilitation work in the island is now halfway done.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, however, clarified that only those which are compliant with the environmental law shall be allowed to accomodate early bookings. Meanwhile, the non-compliant ones will remain closed unless they comply with the law.
“Those establishments that are not yet compliant (and) they still have some cases it is a big “no” for them. I encourage them now to make some changes or make some corrections in their violations of environmental laws,” advised the Secretary.
Based on the agency’s assessment, only 95 out of 2,269 establishments in Boracay have passed environmental standards and shall be allowed to reopen once the closure period ends.
Cimatu is confident that the agency will be able to finish all the works on schedule, just in time for the end of the six-month closure period on October 26.
Meanwhile, owners of non-compliant establishments are encouraged by the Secretary to address their violations while the island is still closed in order for them to catch up and be able to reopen in October. – Vincent Arboleda / Marje Pelayo
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