BORACAY – The local government of Malay, Aklan and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are working to make guidelines that will reconcile “issues” between a municipal ordinance and a recently-issued DENR order.
Municipal Ordinance No. 307 series of 2012 and Memorandum Circular No. 2018-006 both cover the establishment of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in this famed island resort.
They aim to address water quality problems in Boracay, which is now close to three months into its half-year rehabilitation.
“We are going to align the circular with the local law to establish STPs and the compliance of hotels and resorts,” said Atty. Richard Fabila, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Boracay.
DENR secretary Roy Cimatu issued the circular in June. It requires resorts, hotels and similar establishments in the island with 50 rooms and above to set up their own STPs.
Those with 49 rooms and below are required to have a clustered STP or they may opt to have a separate STP, the circular added.
The local ordinance, meanwhile, requires all commercial establishments, buildings, facilities, hotels, lodging houses, and the likes with more than 20 rooms located 61 meters away from the nearest sewage pipeline to set up an STP or connect to a nearby pipeline.
Establishments within the 61-meter pipeline zone but are located below an available sewer pipeline – or areas where connection is “highly improbable” due to elevation – are required to build and maintain a standard septic tank.
Establishments with less than 20 rooms located outside the 61-meter zone are also required to build their own standard septic tank.
Compliant establishments are issued a Wastewater Management Compliance Certificate, one of the pre-requisites for the business permit.
“There is a common denominator in the DENR circular and the local ordinance – the unavailability of sewer system network,” said Fabila.
He added, “Walang madadaanan ang ating mga pipelines. Whether we connect to sewer lines or construct STPs. Kailangan hanapin natin ang mga dating alleys to allow access for the sewer or water lines.”
Fabila also said they have to consider what entity will shoulder the cost of the STP construction and maintenance.
The DENR is eyeing a “no compliance, no permits to operate” policy as part of the circular guidelines.
Fabila added that the agency is still looking for long-term solutions for the island’s environmental woes.
He also noted that the DENR is decommissioning the sewer lines in Sitios Sinagpa and Diniwid in Barangay Balabag before Sept. 30. (With a report from Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
