WETLANDS DISAPPEARING

Duterte declares state of calamity in Boracay

BY PRINCE GOLEZ and RUBY SILUBRICO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte placed Boracay Island under a state of calamity.

Only four out of nine wetlands in the island remain due to the illegal encroachment of structures, he said.

The structures included 937 illegally constructed on forestlands and wetlands, as well as 102 erected on areas already classified as easements.

In signing Proclamation No. 475 yesterday, the President said the “state of calamity…shall remain in force and effect until lifted…notwithstanding the lapse of the six-month closure period.”

The disappearance of the wetlands, which act as natural catchments, enhances flooding in Boracay, according to the inter-agency task force made up of the departments of environment, tourism and local government.

Duterte also yesterday declared Boracay temporary closed as a tourist destination for a much needed rehabilitation.

Boracay is made of three barangays – Balabag, Manoc-Manoc and Yapak.

Investigations led by the inter-agency task force also found Boracay’s waters with high levels of fecal coliform bacteria.

This was “due to insufficient sewer lines and illegal discharge of untreated waste water into the beach,” according to the President.

Only 14 out of 51 establishments near the shores of Boracay Island complied with Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, he disclosed.

“All departments, agencies and offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations and affected local government units are hereby directed to implement and execute the abovementioned closure and the appropriate rehabilitation works, in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives, including the Boracay Action Plan,” read part of Proclamation No. 475.

Local Government secretary Eduardo Año, who was in Boracay yesterday, said among the things the task force intended to accomplish in six months were the restoration of Boracay’s wetlands and removal illegal settlers from forestlands.

“We hope that in six months maibalik natin ang Boracay sa dati. Pero kung tutuusin kulang ang six months,” said Año.

Duterte likewise stressed the need to implement “urgent measures” to ensure the protection and promotion of the health and well-being of Boracay residents, workers and tourists, as well as the sustainability of the area.

A P2-billion budget was earmarked for workers affected by the island’s shutdown.

According to Social Welfare secretary Emmanuel Leyco who was also in Boracay yesterday, there were around 36,000 displaced workers – 19,000 are registered workers and 17,000 informal workers.

In coordination with the Depart ment of Labor and Employment, DSWD would hold job fairs in Boracay, said Leyco.

“We are also thinking of offering livelihood to the workers and teaching them new skills they can use for other industries,” he added.

In February Duterte threatened to close “cesspool” Boracay and directed the environment, tourism and local government departments to address the island’s environmental problems./PN

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here