Boracay establishments breaking easement rules face demolition — Año

MANILA, Philippines — Several establishments operating in the famous Boracay island are facing demolition for violating the imposed easement from the water’s edge, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

Speaking with reporters after the Bantay Korapsyon National Summit in Pasay City on Thursday, Año said that the local government unit in Boracay have reported that many establishments have violated the 25+5-meter beachfront easement.

“Nag-report ang local government unit ng Malay (Aklan) at saka yung ating DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Region don, na maraming mga establishment ang nagba-violate pa rin sa eastment na 25+5 [meters]. Meron na tayong tabulation dun,” he said.

“Binanggit kanina ni [Environment Secretary Roy] Cimatu, yung siyam dun sa tourist areas dun sa Segment 1. Uunahin natin to, ike-clear natin to,” he added, however, he did not mention which establishments in particular are facing demolition.

The DILG chief also warned that if the said establishments would not conduct a self-demolition upon receiving their “final ultimatum,” then the government would do so themselves.

“We will issue the final ultimatum and then we’ll give them 15 days, then we will forcibly demolish all these establishment if they do not do self-demolition,” Año said.

The tourist destination reopened last October following its closure in April for rehabilitation, as President Rodrigo Duterte likened the famous tourist destination to a “cesspool” amid various environmental problems hounding the island. /je

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