MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday said only 71 of the 440 hotels and inns inspected in Boracay were fully-compliant as of August, two months before the island reopens on October 26.
At a Senate hearing on the Boracay rehabilitation on Monday, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said there are at least 2,384 establishments in the famous tourist destination.
“The 2,384, that is all the establishments, inns, businesses, etc. not including the residential. We break it down to, specifically, hotels, resorts, and inns for the Department of Tourism’s use,” he said.
Of the resorts, hotels, and inns we inspected (it’s around) 440, of which 71 of the 440 were fully-compliant with all the permits, licenses of the local government and the national government.”
Meanwhile, on targeted compliance percentage in terms of wastewater management, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo, Jr. said the interagency group is relying on the establishments to put up their respective sewage treatment plants (STPs).
“Within the six-month rehabilitation period, we are banking on the installation of STPs and we will be able to at least target an 80 percent of those,” he said, adding the remaining 20 percent can’t operate nor open on October 26 until they comply.
With respect to the water sewage, Densing said the group is dependent on DENR’s pronouncement due to its “very technical” nature. But he explained that establishments are required to tap into the main sewer line in the island.
“On a personal perspective, if I were to administer the rehabilitation, it should be 100 percent because they need to tap into the sewer line,” he said.
Targets
Asked by Senator Cynthia Villar if only 30 percent of the establishments opening on October 26 would be acceptable, Densing is optimistic the island will still be operational.
“Possible po na between 30 to 50 percent, lalo na kung maglalabas ang DENR ng kanilang carrying capacity study baka 30 to 40 percent lang ang magbubukas, to accommodate (It’s possible between 30 to 50 percent, more so if the DENR will release their carrying capacity study, the establishments to be opened may be opened 30 to 40 percent to accommodate),” he answered.
Densing said the public has to take into account that many of the violators they inspected had no building permits or mayor’s permit at all, even an SSS or PhilHealth for their employees.
“Most of these are really the big ones, wala silang building permits. We’re are trying to let them fill in those deficiencies, so bakit natin papayagan na yung malalaking establishments na (continuous) pa ring mag-operate? Although labas na po ito sa isyu ng tubig, it’s an issue of governance (Most of these are really the big ones, they don’t have building permits. We are trying to let them fill in those deficiencies, so why should we allow those big establishments continue to operate? Although this is beyond the issue of wastewater, it’s an issue of governance),” the DILG official said.
Densing said everyone is responsible with what happened to the island.
“Kasalanan po ito ng lahat (this is everyone’s fault), that’s why when I’m told to describe Boracay, it’s a failed governance. When we talk about failed governance, it’s not only the failure of the government, it’s the failure of the businessmen, workers, the citizens and the residents of the island. Noong isinara, dahan-dahan po nating itinatama (When it closed down, we are gradually working to correct it),” he said. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
