ILOILO CITY—Business groups in Boracay have urged Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza to act on environmental law violations instead of defending the construction of a resort atop a coral reef on the island.

Reacting to Atienza’s statement that they should not discriminate against the Boracay West Cove Resort since other resorts were also violating environmental laws, the businessmen said: “We are not zeroing in on West Cove. But it’s the most glaring so why can’t the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) take action?”

Charlie Uy, president of the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI), told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview on Sunday that they agreed with Atienza that there were other environmental violations on the island but this was not an excuse not to stop the illegal and environmentally destructive construction activities of West Cove.

“Yes, it’s true that it’s not the only violation. So what have they been doing about it? The main point is that the DENR should stop the violations,” Uy said.

Loubelle Cann, president of Boracay Foundation Inc., said they were not discriminating against West Cove and they agreed with Atienza that other resorts in Boracay were violating environmental laws.

“That’s why we are calling his attention to address these issues and penalize these violators and make them correct their violations,” Cann said in an e-mailed statement on Monday.

Cann pointed out that Boracay already had many environmental problems and the BFI and BCCI were focusing on rehabilitating and conserving the island’s natural resources.

She said they were willing to “fully support Secretary Atienza on any actions of the DENR for the protection of the environment.”

The business groups earlier called for an immediate stop to construction activities over the coral reefs and the no-build-zone areas by West Cove.

The Boracay West Cove resort, owned by Manila-based businessman Crisostomo Aquino, who is closely associated with boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Atienza, is situated in a no-build zone. It has extended its structures over coral reefs, which were wrapped in concrete and connected to the main resort with a concrete bridge.

The resort has also been operating without business and DENR permits since 2007, according to the business groups and municipal officials.