BORACAY – Environment secretary Roy Cimatu ordered a new crackdown against erring establishments operating without permits in this famed island resort.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) chief said all establishments
must abide the government-imposed rules and regulations to completely rehabilitate Boracay.
Secretary Cimatu is the chair of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF).
Recently, the BIATF, through the local government unit of Malay, Aklan, temporarily shut down ten Chinese and Korean establishments allegedly operating without permits.
Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group general manager Natividad Bernardino led the team in serving the closure orders.
“The crackdown was ordered by the secretary himself amid reports that Chinese businesses proliferate in the island, with business signage and restaurant menu written only in Chinese characters and catering only Chinese tourists,” said Bernardo.
She noted the local government unit’s (LGU) Boracay Inspection Commsittee examined 49 establishments with foreign business name signages on May 7 to 9.
“Ten were found actively operating without a Mayor’s Permit and another 14 had incomplete requirements from the LGU and the Bureau of Fire Protection,” she said.
The list of non-compliant businesses run by foreign nationals was already endorsed to Malay Mayor Abram Sualog for the issuance of closure orders. (With a report from DENR 6/PN)
