KALIBO, Aklan – The Environment department has set deadlines for the mandatory installation of individual and clustered sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the famed beach destination Boracay.
DENR secretary Roy Cimau has issued Memorandum Circular No. 2018-07, which requires all Boracay establishments with 50 rooms and above to have their own STPs.
Those having 49 rooms and below may have clustered or individual STPs, the circular added.
Recently, the DENR issued Memorandum Order No. 2018-752, which includes clarificatory guidelines and deadlines in relation to the circular.
Based on the order, hotels, resorts and similar establishments within the White/Long Beach area with 50 rooms and above shall install their own STPs on or before Oct. 26 – the scheduled reopening of the island.
Sewage generated by these establishments must conform to the DENR standard for Class SB water, the order added.
Class SB waters are coastal or marine waters that falls under the Recreational Water Class 1 (or water in areas regularly used by the public for bathing swimming, diving, etc.) and Fishery Water Class 3 (or water in spawning areas for bangus and similar species), according to DENR Administrative Order No. 34. series of 1990.
Hotels or resorts with six to 49 rooms will be allowed to operate on Oct. 26 while constructing their respective STPs, provided that they connect to the existing sewage systems of the two water concessionaires in Boracay.
Their sewage must also conform to the DENR standard for Class SB water.
Moreover, establishments with 30 to 49 rooms have until Nov. 30 to construct their individual or clustered STPs.
Those with six to 29 rooms have until Dec. 31 to do the same.
Establishments with five rooms and below are only required to connect to or be serviced by the water concessionaires in the island.
Meanwhile, establishments outside the White Beach area with 50 rooms and above have to install their STPs before Nov. 30; those with 30 to 49 rooms, on Dec. 31; and those with six to 29 rooms, on Jan. 31.
Noncompliant businesses will not be issued environmental permits and clearances, the DENR said. (With a report from PIA Region 6/PN)
