By Tara Yap

Amid accumulating garbage at popular destination Boracay Island, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Ariel Gloria ordered the municipal government of Malay to remove the waste by July 17.
The municipality of Malay is responsible for transporting trash from Boracay to the mainland on a daily basis.
Based on recent reports, an average of 20,000 to 30,000 kilograms of trash has been collected on the island resort.
Earlier this year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of Aklan received complaints regarding a foul odor emanating from Boracay’s centralized trash facility, wherein Malay Mayor Ceciron Cawaling was ordered to immediately haul the trash away, however, according to Gloria, that was never done.
In response, the town claimed their hauling truck broke down and low tide prevented them from crossing to the mainland.
The EMB regional director said if the Malay government fails to act, they will be in violation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act./WDJ