ILOILO CITY, Philippines?The Department of Tourism has joined calls of Boracay business groups for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to stop unabated illegal construction and other destructive activities on the island resort and enforce laws ?regardless of who gets hurt.?

In a letter to Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza dated Oct. 21, tourism regional director Edwin Trompeta expressed concern over the construction of resorts and other structures on top of coral reefs and in no-build zones on the island.

?Several newspaper items and e-mails have shown that the ongoing illegal and destructive construction activities are fast devaluing tourism in Boracay,? Trompeta said.

Business groups on the island earlier called on Atienza to stop the illegal construction and environmental law violations in Boracay, particularly the construction of Boracay West Cove Resort on coral reefs.

The resort, owned by a businessman closely associated with Atienza and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, is in a no-build zone and has been operating without business and other permits since 2007.

Trompeta disclosed that in a recent visit to the island with a group of directors of Capital Tours from Russia, they were ?shocked? to see concrete beach walls put up by resort owners along the beach at the northern end of the island, the location of the best beach spots and most expensive resorts.

?The construction of one or a series of improper structures on a beach or near shore area causes a chain of events,? Trompeta said.

Trompeta warned that illegal structures would ultimately destroy the island?s tourism industry that grosses P13 billion annually.

?The lack of setback and lack of enforcement against these illegal structures... is going to kill tourism that provides jobs, livelihood and investment for our country,? he said.

He urged Atienza to address the growing protests of business groups and other stakeholders by enforcing national laws ?regardless of who gets hurt.?

Trompeta said it is the main responsibility of the DENR to enforce laws dealing with coastal management. These include the Environmental Impact Statement system, foreshore laws, laws on shoreline, marine protected areas, eco-tourism and small island development.

?The laws governing coastal tourism development... just need to be followed,? Trompeta said.