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BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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February 18, 2018
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Malay officials welcome help to fix Boracay woes
BORACAY – “We can’t do it alone,” said Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Jupiter Aelred Gallenero as he and other Malay officials welcomed the national government’s help in solving the environmental problems in this world-famous island.
“The government agencies are now focusing again on Boracay. It is a huge help for the island…not only on the sewerage issue,” Gallenero said.
He added that President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning to close the island if its environmental problems remain unsolved after six months is meant to “awaken” local stakeholders.
According to Gallenero, the stakeholders must support the national government in restoring the island.
Vice Mayor Abram Sualog said Duterte’s statements underscored his political will to “clean up” Boracay.
“It is about time to work for short and long term solutions,” Sualog added.
SB member Dante Pagsuguiron, for his part, stressed that “environmental violations in the island were attributed [to] the lack of strong enforcement of local ordinances.”
Local officials recommended placing Boracay under a state of environmental emergency in light of the President’s statements.
The President called the island resort a “cesspool.”
For his part, Environment secretary Roy Cimatuon Wednesday reminded local officials of their “shared responsibility” in enforcing environmental laws in Boracay.
“We have to go back to the core of the problem which is the strict enforcement of all existing laws and protection of environment,” Cimatu said.
Cimatualso issued a directive to cease issuance of new environmental compliance certificates in Boracay to prevent construction of new buildings.
A technical working group on Feb. 21 will propose before national government agencies a takeover of management of Boracay, according to Interior and Local Government assistant secretary EpimacoDensing III.
Aklan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office headValentinTalabero on Thursday discussed with Mayor CecironCawaling the plans for the island’s rehabilitation.
Talabero said the Environmental Management Bureau already served notices of violations to 37 establishments in the island for violating the Philippine Clean Water Act.
“They were given 15 days to answer the notices,” Talabero said. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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