PAGBILAO, Quezon — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office has scheduled an inventory of resort establishments and beaches across the Calabarzon region — comprised of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon — as early as possible.
DENR Calabarzon Regional Director Dr. Sofio B. Quintana on Tuesday said the inventory and site inspections would be conducted by their field units to ensure the compliance of establishments with environmental and natural resources (ENR) laws.
Quintana slated the inventory after meeting with the regional environment officials and field officers at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in this town.
He said the listing of establishments and inspections would be conducted to avoid a repeat of the Boracay situation where buildings and other structures encroached into the 25-meters shoreline and the 5-meter easements which violate environment and natural resources laws.
He emphasized that the law prohibits the establishment of structures or buildings within the 30-meter easement of the shorelines.
He also directed the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and CENRO officers to ensure that what happened in Boracay — where illegal structures have been constructed in its shorelines and damaged the natural resources and rock formations — must not happen in any resort or beach in the region.
He also said that DENR central office has directed 14 regional teams to conduct the inventory of the resort establishments; issue notice of violation or notice of demolition and other breaches of the ENR laws in their jurisdictions.
The DENR regional director, who assumed his post last January, also took time out to familiarize with the PENRO/CENTRO personnel and their respective functions.
He also reminded them of the priority directives of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu to stay focused on implementing ENR laws to ensure “clean air, clean water and clean beaches” anywhere in the region where they are assigned. (Gideon Belen/PNA)
