BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — Establishments located within 6 meters from the center of the road in Boracay will be demolished, the head of the regional environment office has warned.
The 12-meter road setback rule would be implemented instead of 30 meters, as imposed in Presidential Proclamation 1064 in 2006, Jim Sampulna, Regional Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 6 (Western Visayas), said in an interview Tuesday.
“It is more applicable for the island,” Sampulna said, noting that those within the road setback are given one week to self-demolish.
If not, the government would demolish them, he added.
Sampulna, with members of DENR task force Boracay, and representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Malay’s municipal government, and Aklan’s provincial government led the setting of the marker for the road setback Tuesday morning.
The setback rule was also pursuant to the municipal ordinance of Malay, which requires “buildings and similar structures, temporary or permanent”, to be constructed at least 6 meters from the center of the road.
Markers will be set up from Cagban Port in Barangay Manocmanoc until Barangay Yapak.
Most of the affected residents and building owners said they are willing to self-demolish in support of the clean-up of the island.
“We are willing to self-demolish for Boracay but we hope that they will not close the island,” said one of the residents.
The activity is part of the clean-up that aims to solve the environmental problems plaguing the world-famous tourist destination. (PNA)
