The regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Western Visayas on Sunday hit the “failure of governance” in Boracay that led to the overpopulation and unabated and unregulated establishment of buildings in the once pristine stretch of tropical paradise.
“My heart bleeds for Boracay,” DENR Region 6 director Dr. Jim Sampulna said.
“There is failure of governance in Boracay. It as if there is no government there,” he added.
Sampulna said it is high time all stakeholders worked together to address the environmental violations before it is too late.
“I was given a marching order by DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu to take charge of the Boracay problem. To me, the number one tourist destination in the world is dying,” he said.
“If the local government unit will not participate or cooperate, I will ask the police to do it with us.”
Last week, Sampulna led a stakeholders’ meeting in Kalibo, Aklan to discuss the issues besetting the world-famous island.
“It was a very positive meeting that had good results as everyone wanted to help fix the hounding issues of Boracay Island,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte gave the DENR, along with other concerned agencies, local government units and the business sector, six months to address the problems in Boracay.
Duterte has threatened to shut down the resort operations in the island if the problem festers.
Sampulna said the agency’s Environmental Management Bureau had issued notices of violation to 51 establishments in Boracay Island, part of the first batch of the 300 establishments identified by the EMB to have violated provisions in their environmental compliance certificate.
As for illegal forest occupants who have encroached on the island’s timberland areas, a total of 174 initial show-cause orders have already been signed by Aklan DENR provincial officer Valentin Tabalero.