DILG: ‘Possible’ charges to be filed vs Malay execs over Boracay environmental fee

Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said Friday a “second wave” of charges will be filed against several local officials of Malay, Aklan over discrepancies in the collection and utilization of environmental fees on Boracay Island.

“Along the way discovered, we tried to investigate the environmental fee collected on the island,” Densing told reporters in a forum.

Visitors to the world-famous resort island are charged a P75 environmental fee on entry

Densing said that in 2017, the local government of Malay reported that two million tourists entered Boracay, which translates to P150 million in collection fees. Of the P150 million, the local government only declared P92 million which is 85 percent of their share.

Densing said the Department of the Interior and Local Government has asked the Commission on Audit to take a look at the collection and utilization of environmental fees.

He said the DILG wanted answers on the correct amount to be collected and how the fund was utilized.

Densing added that in the report submitted by the local government of Malay, they found out that some funds were utilized for projects that are not environmental in nature.

“Once makuha na namin yung report, there’s a possibility we will file anti-graft and corrupt practices act violations against the local officials,” he said.   /muf