Año to LGU in Boracay: Cooperate with the investigation being conducted by DILG

February 15, 2018

Interior and Local Government (DILG) OIC-Secretary Eduardo Año urged the local government of Malay, Aklan which has jurisdiction over Boracay Island to cooperate with investigation by the DILG and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) after President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning to close Boracay if it is not cleaned up within six months. "The local government is accountable for the crisis faced by Boracay. They should have enforced environmental laws as well as their own local ordinances,” said Año in a statement Thursday. “The presence of commercial establishments even beyond the prescribed distance from the coastline would not be possible without building and construction permits issued by the LGU. It is their lookout,” he pointed out. He said their investigation will look into the possible liability of local government officials who issued building permits, occupancy permits and even business permits despite non-compliance with applicable laws and issuances. "Why did the LGU allow establishments to be built in areas classified as forest lands? Why did the Barangay issue the necessary clearances? This we intend to find out and soon," said Ano. He said the president's threat to file charges against the local government for serious neglect of duty "is a much-needed wakeup call” to both the LGU and business establishments who share the responsibility of preserving the top tourism destination of the country. The DILG chief said they will file appropriate administrative and criminal charges against government officials based on the results of the on-going investigation. "We are expediting this and we will go where the evidence brings us," he added. The DENR announced that erring establishments in Boracay which release untreated wastewater and sewage into the waters are given two months to either connect to the sewage treatment plant of Boracay Island Water Company (BIWC) or install their own wastewater treatment facilities in compliance with environmental laws. DMS