BORACAY – Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) has opened an investigation on a water concessionaire in this famed-island resort.
This came about after the viral video of sea turtle sticking its head in an underwater pipe off Bulabog beach, apparently to feed, while yellowish ooze continue to leak out.
The video was taken
by Charn Joon Park or “Boracay Wilson. It has aroused interest anew on the
efforts of all stakeholders, primarily the government to ensure that Boracay
remain clean.
Although most netizens were concerned with what happened to the sea turtle, the
video also got the attention of the DENR.
“We found out ito ay outfall ng Boracay Tubi System Inc. (BTSI) at ayon sa ating water sampling, mataas ang coliform levels nito,” Antiporda said.
Earlier, water samples were taken by Department of Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) and were tested positive of unsafe coliform levels.
The Environment Management Bureau also issued a cease and desist order directing BTSI from utilizing the outfall.
Last week of August, a pipeline discharging untreated wastewater along Talapian alley in Bulabog, Balabag was already condemned and this prompted authorities to permanently seal the drainage canal.
In a separate statement, Boracay Island Water Company (BIWC) disclosed that the company is committed to treat its wastewater before it discharges to Bulabog outfall in accordance with the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.
BIWC has been utilizing Black high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes for used water and Blue HDPE pipes for potable water.
“For the past few years, BIWC has been compliant with the DENR Class B standards through water tests conducted by Boracay Water, DENR-EMB and a third party accredited laboratory service,” the water company stressed.
Boracay Island was closed down to tourist for six months upon President Duterte’s orders and just a few months back was re-opened. (With Akean Forum/PN)
