Boracay business operators say lack of permits due to red tape

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — Several business operators here have described as inaccurate a government report stating that less than 5 percent of businesses on the island were compliant with government permits, claiming many of them had not been issued certain permits or certificates due to red tape.

“Our applications for permits at times take months even if we have paid the fees and complied with requirements,” one operator told the Inquirer on condition of anonymity to avoid antagonizing officials.

“Some of the offices lack personnel which slows down the processing,” he added.

Another operator at Yapak village, which is not covered by the island’s sewerage system, learned only recently that the establishment required a dislodging permit for its sewage treatment facility.

“(Department of Environment and Natural Resources) personnel came to our establishment several times and did not tell us about the permit. Now, they tell us we are noncompliant,” the operator said.

‘Wild, Wild West’

Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III earlier called the phenomenon of noncompliance by businesses a “Wild Wild West.”

Densing reported on May 17 that only 25 of 1,080 inspected establishments (2.3 percent) on the island had secured government permits and met requirements.

As of May 24, 1,624 establishments had been inspected, according to the Boracay Inspection Committee (BIC), an interagency body led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Of this number, 488 establishments were closed or had no personnel, 40 were compliant and 1,096 were noncompliant.

But the business-led Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) said those reported as noncompliant included those with applications for permits still being processed by various offices and agencies.

BFI said the delays were often not the fault of business operators.

“It is unfair that most if not all business operators are depicted as not following or complying with rules and regulations,” another operator said.

Fire safety certificate

Many establishments are not able to get a fire safety certificate or their applications are still being processed as they have to comply with new requirements, including installing sprinklers and putting up stairs for the alternative exit instead of external ladders, according to BFI president Nenette Aguirre-Graf.

The fire safety inspection certificate (FSIC) is a requirement in getting a mayor’s permit.

Senior Insp. Lorna Parcellano, chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection at Malay town, said the issuance of an FSIC did not have new requirements.

“These are already in the (Fire Code of the Philippines). We are just implementing them,” she told the Inquirer.

Parcellano, however, said the bureau needed more personnel. Only four inspectors are catering to the whole municipality, including Boracay.

The BIC reported that 522 establishments had FSICs, while 612 others did not have the document.

A total of 441 establishments have been issued mayor’s permits, while 695 do not have them, according to the report.