THE SIX-MONTH closure of Boracay has resulted to the dramatic transformation of its white beach – it is now wider and cleaner. Of course, there are more things to do but this is clearly a big gain already. And this gain must be sustained.
The government should work hard to make Boracay a model for ecological solid waste management (ESWM). The island will once again lose its attractiveness fast if tourists find it unclean.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) must exercise utmost vigilance especially in monitoring compliance to or violation of environmental laws such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003) and the Clean Water Act (Republic A 9275), even as the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) already plugged the pipes from the establishments leading to the storm drain canals and had issued notices of violation.
Yes, there must be a stronger implementation of Republic Act 9003 and full compliance to it by the local government unit, including the barangays.
On the national scale, according to the DENR there are still 420 local government units with open dumpsites, which are prohibited under the law. By the way, materials recovery facilities in communities need not be expensive. These should be made only from recycled and indigenous materials. Everyone can practice waste segregation in the office and at home.
Let us make Boracay a model green island that exercises the elements of a blue economy, respecting and protecting the water around it.
And let us do the same in other tourist havens.
