By Tara Yap

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu vowed to pursue environmental violators at the resort destination of Boracay.
Cimatu challenged local DENR officials to be aggressive in implementing the law.
“Huwag mong sabihin sa akin ayaw kasi makinig ng local government. Eh, tirahin mo ang local government (Don’t tell me the local government won’t listen. Then go after the local government),” Cimatu emphasized.
After speaking at the Independence Day celebration in Iloilo City, the former military general discussed issues currently hounding Boracay with DENR-Region VI (DENR-6) Director Jim Sampulna, Environmental and Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Ariel Gloria, and DENR-Aklan chief Ivene Reyes.
Boracay has suffered environmental degradation with the influx of millions of foreign and domestic tourists since the 1980s, with problems including insufficient waste management, inadequate treatment of wastewater, and the unregulated construction of hotels and resorts in protected areas.
Recurring algae has also turned away tourists from swimming.
Cimatu ordered local DENR officials to conduct tougher inspections and submit recommendations for proper action, especially on how to attain cleaner water and proper waste management system.
Local DENR officials also informed Cimatu of the need for other government agencies, such as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), to cooperate in implementing the laws./WDJ