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Teo: Boracay establishments with no ECCs will be demolished


Establishments in Boracay Island that have not secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) will be demolished, according to Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo.

"Yes, it will be demolished. That strict," Teo said in an ANC interview on Wednesday.

"Kung saan ka naglampas then it has to be demolished," she added.

The ECC is issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources indicating that the establishment or project will not pose a negative impact on its surrounding environment.

Environment Underscretary Jonas Leones said not having an ECC makes an establishment an "illegal occupant" in the area.

"The reason why we required them to secure ECC is to determine the environmental impact of such endeavor," he said.

"So if they will not secure ECC from us, then that is a violation of our existing laws and regulations," he added.

Leones said Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has suspended the issuance of ECCs during the rehabilitation of the island starting on April 26.

D'Mall to go

Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año earlier said that some 800 establishments in the island have committed different kinds of violations.

"May mga buildings dito tumayo without permit. Meron namang business permit pero walang ECC. At 'yung businesses na lumampas na sa 25 plus five meters easement," Año told reporters on March 2.

"Talagang violation. Siguro we are talking here of 800 plus establishments," he added.

For instance, D'Mall, one of the biggest establishments on Boracay island, is said to have been built on a wetland.

But while D'Mall has already denied this claim, Teo said that it will still be demolished.

Leones explained that D'Mall, though not exactly constructed over a wetland, blocks water tributaries.

"Based on our assessment, they aren't actually on top of a wetland but they are located on the tributaries of a wetland," he said.

"They're blocking the water going to the wetlands. So they need to clear that waterway so that the water will be going to the wetland," he added.

This may be the reason why Boracay, despite being a small island, is experiencing flooding, Leones said.

"In Boracay, we are now experiencing flooding there. Very small island but we're experiencing flooding. Most of the tributaries are already clogged," he said.

"It's not only D'Mall. There are other establishments that are similarly situated," he added. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News