Does this spell the end for the resort?
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has terminated a 25-year land use agreement with Boracay West Cove, a controversial posh resort in Boracay accused of building structures on natural rock formations and operating for years without business and building permits,” reports Nestor P. Burgos Jr. in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The report noted: “In a three-page order dated Sept. 12, Environment Undersecretary for Field Operations Demetrio Ignacio Jr. ordered the cancellation of the Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT) issued to the Boracay West Cove resort.”
You see, “a FLAgT allows the temporary use, occupation and development of any forest land for tourism purposes for a period of 25 years, renewable for another 25 years.”
The agreement applies to forest lands for bathing, camp sites, ecotourism destinations, hotel sites and other tourism purposes. The cancellation was sought by The Department of Tourism after the resort allegedly violated the terms.
The report revealed: “In his order, Ignacio said the resort’s violations included building permanent structures in an area measuring 3,159 square meters, which is outside the 998-sq m area in Barangay Balabag covered by the lease agreement.”
Meanwhile, Boracay West Cove owner Crisostomo Aquino has repeatedly insisted that he “did not violate the FLAgT and environmental laws.” He pointed out that “the local government had ignored his application for permits and accused government agencies of singling out his resort.”
Photo: Boracay West Cove website
