[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’DOT halts accreditation of Boracay establishments’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY IME SORNITO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
ILOILO City – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas has temporarily stopped accrediting hotels, restaurants and resorts in Boracay while the island’s environmental problems are being addressed.
According to Director Helen Catalbas, new applications and applications for renewal of DOT accreditation will be held in abeyance until concerned establishments present their certificate of environmental laws compliance issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The accreditation moratorium will last for six months – the same period that President Rodrigo Duterte gave the DENR and the local government of Malay which has jurisdiction over Boracay to clean the island up.
Establishments in Boracay must acquire and maintain individual water treatment facility, as well as connect to the centralized sewerage system.
The President threatened to shut down Boracay, the country’s top tourist destination raking in millions of pesos in revenues for the country, if its environmental problems are not addressed.
Catalbas also announced that only DOT-accredited Boracay establishments may join national and international travel fairs, missions or road shows sponsored by DOT and the Tourism Promotions Board.
In Manila, DOT assistant secretary Frederick Alegre said a reduction in the resort island’s pollution is expected as tourism facilities would be forced to act swiftly in making themselves compliant to environmental laws.
In a statement, DOT, in coordination with DENR and the Department of Interior and Local Government, said appropriate criminal and administrative charges will be filed against erring establishments responsible for Boracay’s seawater contamination. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
