Inter-agency task force to inspect establishments near El Nido: Cimatu

August 1, 2019

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said only establishments that violate environmental laws will be possibly closed not the entire El Nido in Palawan.

Cimatu said the inter-agency task force will “undertake investigation and inspection on the establishments, including households” very near the vicinity of tourist spots in El Nido.

“We gave them 20 days effective August 5 up to 25. They have 20 days for them to submit the result of investigation and inspection. It will highlight the non-compliance or those who violate the environmental laws, those who do not have permits, no accreditation of tourism department,” he told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday.

“The instruction was that make a recommendation after that, if there will be closure of individual (establishments) not the whole El Nido. There might be some closure on the establishments that violates the prescribed laws for tourism,” he added.

However, Cimatu said some areas in El Nido closed for rehabilitation will continue to be a no-swimming site.

“Well the consensus of us here that we will continue the rehabilitation,” he said.

“There are complaints about the quality of the water that’s why there was this recommendation for the closure of some specific areas with slightly high coliform level and the problem on easement so we waited for this so we can make a decision,” he noted.

“The decision is that we will continue the rehabilitation. We will not close El Nido and we will continue the no-swimming areas in Bacuit Bay, portion in Bacuit, in the outpost in the Bacuit Bay and one in Corong-(corong). Those are the no swimming areas,” he added.

Cimatu said the tourism in El Nido will continue except in some areas closed for rehabilitation.

“The tourism there is open. There will be some no-swimming areas because there is still ongoing rehabilitation,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS