BORACAY – No residents were evicted from two of this island resort’s wetlands, according to Community Environment and Natural Resources Office head Atty. Richard Fabila.
“No one has been evicted from the wetlands. I have to make it clear. We only removed the illegal structures or boardinghouses,” Fabila said in a media briefing on Friday.
He was referring to Wetland Nos. 3 and 6, which are identified wetlands that “directly pollute the water of Boracay.”
Fabila added that the boardinghouses in these wetlands were deserted as Boracay was closed off to non-locals beginning April 26 for the island’s half-year closure and rehabilitation.
He also said they have yet to find an area where residents can be relocated.
The relocation site must not have a “legal issue on the procurement of the land,” Fabila stressed.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has initially identified Barangay Cogon in mainland Malay as a relocation site.
But DENR secretary Roy Cimatu on Thursday said the relocation site was found to be a landslide-prone area.
“We are looking for an alternative. I cannot afford to recommend the relocation site when it is landslide-prone,” Cimatu added.
He said they are considering two areas as possible relocation sites but did not disclose what these areas were.
The relocation of residents and demolition of illegal structures are part of the DENR’s effort to reclaim Boracay wetlands.
There are nine wetlands in the island, the DENR said. (With a report from PNA/PN)
