BORACAY – Twenty-five establishments operating in this famed-island resort face closure orders after failing to secure business permits.
The Boracay Inter Agency Rehabilitation Management Group (BIARMG) on Monday started distributing notices of closure against erring establishments. Some of them failed to get business permits while several others violated the national building code, the rehabilitation group said.
According to BIARMG chairwomen Natividad Bernardino, the 25 establishments were part two of the crackdown undertaken by the BIARMG. Last month, 11 shops owned by Chinese nationals were shut down.
“The BIARMG has been giving notices to business owners since April but until now they are remiss,” Bernardino explained.
Among the establishments facing closure include a famous health and wellness shop, a commercial bank and cellphone repair shops.
“We have to enforce the closure order in order to remind the establishments that we mean business in rehabilitating Boracay,” she stressed.
Bernardino noted they are investigating several Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) officials allegedly giving out certification to establishments even though they have existing violations. She added they already informed DENR secretary Roy Cimatu about this matter.
“There will a possible third round of closure. We are just waiting for the new set of local government officials assumes their office on July 1,” said Bernardino./PN
