The government is cracking down on environmentally irresponsible establishments in Boracay island.
Yesterday, Philippine Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said in a press release that he would give establishments not properly connected to the sewage system two months to shape up, or else they will get shut down.
“The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) is giving them two months to comply with the law. Otherwise, we will close them,” Cimatu was quoted in a report on CNN Philippines.
This comes days after President Rodrigo Duterte warned the public that he would shut down Boracay and charge officials for allowing the island to overdevelop.
Tourism officials admitted that sewage conditions in Boracay, known globally for its pristine white sands and crystal clear waters, are continuing to worsen.
READ: Duterte slams Boracay, threatens to close it for being a ‘cesspool’
“It’s a shame that Boracay, which has repeatedly been recognized by prestigious travel magazines as the world’s most beautiful island, may yet end up a paradise lost if water contamination continues,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said in a statement.
Despite its over-development issues, Boracay was still voted the best island in the world by Condé Nast Traveler last year.
According to a Rappler report, 50 to 60 percent of all establishments in Boracay are compliant with the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, but Cimatu noted that the rest direct their pipes to canals that drain into the sea.
But Boracay business owners don’t agree with Duterte’s suggested solution. In an interview with CNN Philippines, they said only businesses that don’t comply should be shut down because shutting the entire island down would affect those who depend on tourism for their livelihood.
In addition to giving businesses a two-month deadline, environment compliance certificates, which are required in order to build new establishements, are on hold.
The halt on construction comes two weeks after the announcement of DoubleDragon Properties’ plan to build the largest hotel in the Philippines in Boracay.
According to local government data, about 2 million tourists visited Boracay last year.
