DILG creates special team to investigate reported Boracay pollution

March 2, 2018

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has created a special investigating team to probe the reported pollution at the world-famous tourist resort of Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.

DILG officer-in-charge Undersecretary Eduardo Ano said the 12-man team will also file cases against government personnel and private individuals who are going to be found liable for the environmental problem in the popular tourist destination.

“We will ensure that those responsible we be held accountable,” Ano said in a statement.

The team is led by DILG Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Epimaco Densing, and Senior Executive Assistant Jerry Loresco as vice chairperson.

President Rodrigo Duterte described Boracay, a frequent destination of tourists in the Philippines as a "cesspool."

Ano made the announcement as senators held a public hearing in Boracay on Friday where lawmakers decried the lack of sanitary measures and hit authorities for building resort areas on wetlands.

"Boracay has clearly gone over its carrying capacity in terms of population and development," said Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Senator Nancy Binay, in her opening statement, said in research done from 2010 to 2015, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study done by Filipino and Japanese scientists warned of "imminent loss" of the island's natural beauty.

"Boracay is at a crossroad because of over-commercialization, pollution at overcrowding. These are already recipes for ecological genocide, and it's waiting to happen if we don't do something about it," said Binay.

Senator Loren Legarda, citing figures from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, that around 17.5 million liters of wastewater is generated in Boracay island every day and only about half of which is treated properly. The other half is discharged untreated. About 30 to 40 percent of the untreated wastewater comes from private homes, and the rest from business establishments, added Legarda.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said they could only identify four our of nine wetlands "We will try to restore wetlands on Boracay Island, " he told the senators. He said the illegal settlers in wetlands cause pollution.

Ano directed the investigating body to look into the utilization of  the environmental fees collected by the local government.

“Their investigation shall cover a period of ten years reckoning from year 2008 up to 2018.  I expect them to submit a comprehensive report on the result of their probe as soon as possible,” said Ano.

Ano said the DILG is exercising its supervisory powers over local government units.

The DILG earlier recommended the island be placed under a state of calamity to speed up mitigation response and rehabilitation. DMS