Boracay forest, wetland encroachers charged

SPIC AND SPAN BORACAY. In April 2018, the government began Boracay Island’s six-month closure so rehabilitation work could start without much interference. It reopened Boracay in October that year, drawing the public’s praise for rehabilitation work done so far.
SPIC AND SPAN BORACAY. In April 2018, the government began Boracay Island’s six-month closure so rehabilitation work could start without much interference. It reopened Boracay in October that year, drawing the public’s praise for rehabilitation work done so far.

BORACAY – The anti-encroachment crackdown as part of this island resort’s rehabilitation has resulted to the recovery of illegally occupied forestland, easements, and wetlands, said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Roy Cimatu.

“The rule of law is paramount and law enforcement is crucial and non-negotiable,” he said in a virtual presser.

The operations against nine establishments illegally occupying protected forestland in Boracay resulted in the filing of cases against the encroachers for violating Presidential Decree 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines) and Presidential Decree 1067 (The Water Code of the Philippines).

About 73 percent of 339 structures in Boracay complied with easement regulations, said Cimatu.

“Of the nine wetlands in Boracay, we have so far recovered five. These are wetland numbers 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8,” he said.

Recovering and restoring the wetlands are part of activities in addressing Boracay’s environmental degradation, said Cimatu.

“Wetlands are important to the island because these help reduce soil erosion and store water to minimize impacts of flooding,” he explained.

In April 2018, the government began Boracay Island’s six-month closure so rehabilitation work could start without much interference.

The government re-opened Boracay in October that year, drawing the public’s praise for rehabilitation work done there so far.

According to DENR, the government targets to finish Boracay Island’s rehabilitation by May 2021.

Rehabilitation remains on track despite Boracay’s temporary closure again as a precaution against coronavirus disease 2019, said Cimatu./PN

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