Lawmakers have ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to draft a masterplan to address the environmental concerns of areas frequented by tourists.
At a congressional hearing, members of the House of Representatives’ committee on natural resources asked DENR officials to submit a workable and attainable budget in 2019 budget for that purpose.
The congressmen issued the call during the hearing of the Committee on Natural Resources on House Resolution 1706, filed by the panel’s chairman, Party-list Rep. Arnel Ty of LP-GMA, that seeks an inquiry into the reported establishment of structures in the forest areas as well as the shorelines of Boracay.
Environment officials, led by Secretary Roy Cimatu, who attended the hearing, reported on the agency’s rehabilitation activities at Boracay, which is set to be reopened on Oct. 26.
Cimatu’s report focused on the activities done to improve water services and sewerage disposal on the island.
A member of the committee, Rep. Jesulito Manalo of ANGKLA Party-list told Cimatu to submit to the Congress and the Department of Budget and Management the projected budget needed to protect the environment in various tourist destinations.