THE Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) yesterday finalized an environmental master
plan for the world-famous island-resort of Boracay that would
ensure any development activity in the island would be
environment-friendly.
Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said he
will present the master plan to the heads of government agencies
and stakeholders involved in the development of Boracay.
Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay town where
Boracay is located called on Atienza early this week after the
DENR secretary warned Boracay officials of sanctions if they
continue ignoring the moratorium on further construction
projects that are reportedly stretching the island’s resources
to the limit.
The DENR issued the moratorium in August
2007. Boracay officials enforced it last Jan. 2.
Cawaling told Atienza that all construction
activities in the island have been frozen and applications to
put up new hotels, apartments, lodging houses and similar
structures, as well as the expansion and renovation of existing
buildings, are now on hold.
Atienza said Cawaling and members of the
local council in Boracay also promised support for the DENR’s
environmental plan that covers air and water quality, ample
forest cover, solid waste management, and containment of
recurrent floods in the resort island.
DENR-Region VI executive director Lormelyn Claudio said
several master plans previously been drawn up for Boracay were
not properly implemented because the the local government units
were not involved. She said Atienza’s emphasis on involving
local officials should do the trick this time. – Job T.
Realubit
