Año: Raps await those behind Boracay’s ‘organized chaos’

BORACAY ISLAND—Violators of environmental laws and building codes who were responsible for the “organized chaos” on Boracay Island, could expect charges filed against them in less than six months, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government officer in charge, Eduardo Año.

“In the six months timeframe given to us by the President, we will be make everything possible to save Boracay and put those responsible to face sanction,” Año told reporters on Thursday.

Five departments

The interior department is one of five departments tasked by President Duterte to rehabilitate Boracay in six months. The others are the environment, tourism, public works and justice departments.

The full-scale effort to restore and upgrade the maintenance of Boracay Island’s nature comes in the wake of reports of water pollution, flooding, garbage disposal problems, encroachment and land-use violations.

Año said his department had created a task force to investigate local officials who had been negligent since 2001, when development of the island began.

He said more than 800 business establishments had violated many regulations, like building without permits.

Some that had permits did not have environmental compliance certificates, while others defied the easement rule prohibiting structures on beaches within 30 meters from the high-tide waterline.

300 violators

About 300 of the establishments also violated the Clean Water Act and some had illegally built structures on wetlands and timberlands, which were protected areas, Año added.

“There is no order. It’s being called organized chaos, so we will try to fix it,” he said.

He said the government would destroy illegal structures if the concerned business establishments did not voluntarily demolish them.

Año said all establishments would be given the chance to also connect to the sewage system.