Villanueva seeks Senate probe on Boracay environmental issues

Senator Joel Villanueva. PHOTO FROM JOEL VILLANUEVA FACEBOOK PAGE

Senator Joel Villanueva has called for a Senate probe on the environmental issues surrounding Boracay Island.

Villanueva on Friday filed a resolution seeking Senate review on the approval and monitoring process of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the applications of environmental compliance certificates.

This amid President Rodrigo Duterte’s call on the DENR to clean up the tourist destination in Aklan. Duterte threatened to close Boracay from tourists in six months if the environmental crisis in the island would not be resolved.

Under Resolution No. 646, the senator called for a review on the conduct of environmental impact assessment and the approval process of the DENR in the application for environmental compliance certificates.

“Businesses and industries should account for the possible impact of their operations in aggravating the impact of climate change. Our regulatory agencies should also improve their capacity in monitoring compliance and enforcement of environmental policies,” Villanueva said.

“The proliferation of private establishments in the Boracay Island and the poor monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws have resulted in massive environmental damage in the island, which threatens the viability of the island as a prime tourist destination,” the senator added.

Around 300 establishments in Boracay Island would be served notices of violation and be subjected under the review of the DENR, said Villanueva citing DENR’s statement.

Notices of violation were also sent to 51 Boracay establishments found violating one of the provisions of the Clean Water Act of 2004. /jpv

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