ILOILO CITY, Philippines?TwO business groups in Boracay sought an immediate stop to the construction of a resort on top of a coral reef and in a no-build zone on the island.

The project is owned by a businessman said to be close to boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza Jr.

In a joint statement, business groups Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) deplored the construction of the Boracay West Cove Resort at Sitio Diniwid in Barangay Yapac, Malay town.

?We express our anger and frustration at the ongoing illegal and destructive construction activities,? said the statement.

Photos of the project showed coral reefs already wrapped in concrete with a hut being built over them. A concrete bridge connects the reefs to the resort.

The resort, owned by Manila-based businessman Crisostomo ?Cris? Aquino, had already drawn criticisms from owners of resorts and other stakeholders in Boracay for alleged violations, including the building of structures on a cliff and over coral reefs.

Close friends

Aquino is a close friend of Pacquiao, who is a protege of Atienza.

?We are alarmed because these environmentally destructive activities have been going on for too long despite our protests,? said Loubelle Cann, BFI president, in a phone interview on Tuesday.

Cann said the project was ?putting to waste all our efforts and resources to rehabilitate and save Boracay?s environment.?

Also on Tuesday, Aquino said the structures were just temporary so guests could reach the hut from the resort during low tide.

Owners of resorts have questioned Atienza in August on the failure of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to stop the alleged violations.

They wondered why the resort continued to operate even without permits from the local government and the DENR and despite allegedly violating an ordinance barring structures on no-build zones.

Legalization process

Atienza had said the resort was legalizing its operations by securing a Forest Landuse Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT), which would allow the continued operation of West Cove.

A FlagT, under DENR Administrative Order 2004-59, allows the temporary use, occupation and development of any forest land for tourism purposes for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years.

The agreement covers forest lands to be used for bathing, campsites, ecotourism destinations and hotel sites.

Aquino, in an earlier interview, said the resort has a pending application for FlagT covering 10,586 square meters.
Atienza has ordered the processing of the application after it was filed March 9, 2009.

Aquino said his resort applied for business and other permits but he could not be issued these permits until it has a FLAgT.
The resort has been operating without business and other permits since 2007, according to municipal officials.

?We cannot understand why the management of the resort is allowed to undertake these illegal and environmentally destructive activities,? the business groups said in the statement.

?For the past two years, it appears that they are enjoying too much immunity and can do anything...?

Atienza has repeatedly said the DENR would crack down on violators of environmental laws on the island.

The community in Sitio Diniwid has also launched a signature campaign against West Cove.