Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has lifted the suspension on the environmental compliance certificates of several businesses in Aklan’s Boracay Island two weeks before its reopening.
In an Oct. 5 Memorandum Circular 2018-14, Cimatu gave the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau in Region 6 the go-signal to lift the suspension on the ECCs issued to “complying” hotels and other establishments on the island.
“In view of the upcoming opening of the Boracay Island on 26 October 2018, after its closure for 6 months, the EMB Regional Office 6 is hereby authorized to lift the suspension of ECCs of all complying hotels and establishments in the said island,” the memorandum read.
Last July, the DENR chief issued a directive suspending the ECCs of all business establishments in Boracay pending a thorough review of their compliance with existing local and national laws.
Memorandum Circular 2018-03 dated July 18 also created a committee composed of representatives from the DENR, EMB and Mines and Geosciences Bureau to review the compliance of these establishments with their respective ECCs.
In the new memo, Cimatu ordered the committee to continuously monitor all Boracay establishments on their compliance with existing ECCs and environmental management plans.
He also directed the committee to submit to him its regular monitoring reports.
“Likewise, the EMB Regional Office 6 shall continue to monitor establishments despite such lifting of suspension of their respective ECCs, and monitor all establishments issued with certificate of non-coverage to ensure their compliance with environmental laws and assure that no violation against the same is committed,” he said.
