ILOILO City – The half-year deadline for Boracay’s rehabilitation is right on track, said Environment secretary Roy Cimatu.
Cimatu added that the rehabilitation might be ahead of schedule.“Mukha yatang…baka mauna pa tayo,” he stressed.
Cimatu said this after 26 illegal pipes leading to Boracay’s shores were excavated on Saturday.
“Yung mga nahukay ninyong mga tubo na papunta sa beach ay galing sa mga establishment na may dalang bacteria na galing sa dumi ng tao,” the Environment chief added.
Earlier, the Environment department said Boracay rehabilitation efforts may take longer than six months.
On Friday, Cimatu reiterated such in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV as he revealed the problems they face in relation to the ongoing island cleanup.
Cimatu has said he was surprised that there were still 43 illegal pipes unearthed on the island’s beachfront.
“I was expecting na wala pong tubo rito (beachfront),” he stressed.
The unearthed pipes were proof of violation of the 25-meter-plus-5-meter no-build zone from the shoreline.
The inspection was made after high levels of coliform bacteria were found in the waters at the beachfront.
At least 16 hotels and tourism establishments are under probe for installing the pipes.
Aside from fines amounting to P10,000 to P200,000 daily, criminal and administrative cases also await those found responsible for the installation of the pipes, Cimatu said.
Cimatu also said soldiers are helping in unearthing the illegal pipes.
“Definitely, kung hindi natin nagawa ito (excavation), I am very sure na magpoproblema later on,” he stressed.
Boracay has been closed to tourists since April 26 at President Rodrigo Duterte’s order. He said the shutdown will be up to six months, or until October.
Meanwhile, the Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) – group of business owners in the island – released a statement on Saturday calling out the government for failing to give out “timely and relevant” information about the rehabilitation efforts.
“We would like to request the concerned agencies to update us on the status of their work, timelines, upcoming plans, and hindrances if any that would cause delay to their projects,” the BFI said.
It added that a month into the rehab efforts, there was neither a central source of information nor a place to ask questions, including official dates.
“Currently, community members and the private sector hear updates only through local media, and not directly from the source agency,” added the BFI.
The group also noted the “very minimal assistance” to workers affected by the island’s six-month closure.
“We want to know if budget for the entire rehabilitation including support to the displaced workers are not just in the pipeline, but are now easily available and that rehabilitation construction works will be done 24/7,” it said. (With a report from CNN Philippines/PN)
