
ILOILO City – Only 38 out of 1,552 establishments fully complied with business and environment rules in Boracay, according to Interior Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing III.
Densing, one of the officials leading the island resort’s rehabilitation, said this on ANC’s Early Edition on Tuesday.
Boracay was like the “wild, wild west” where some businessmen “follow the law at their option,” Densing stressed.
The violators were given five months to comply with the business requirements, said Densing.
“If they have not complied when the island reopens, then we will have to close them down,” he added.
Businessmen and residents who were found to have discharged wastewater beneath Boracay’s beachfront were also directed to dismantle their pipes or pay fines amounting P10,000 to P200,000.
Environment secretary Roy Cimatu has said there were 43 illegal pipes installed beneath Boracay’s shores.
The pipes were a violation of the 25-meter-plus-5-meter no-build zone from the shoreline.
On Saturday, 26 of these illegal pipes were excavated, according to Cimatu.
He added that some 16 hotels and tourism establishments were responsible for installing the pipes.
Boracay has been closed off to tourists since April 26 at President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to pave the way for the island’s half-year rehabilitation. (With a report from ABS-CBN News/PN)