The Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently met to discuss the ongoing pollution situation at resort destination Boracay.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said his agency would continue to crackdown on those violating environmental law.

“I’m going to Boracay soon to bring my personnel to augment the operations,” he said.

The cabinet official called “clearing the drainage system of Boracay” the DENR’s first phase of operations.

As of last week, around 300 closure notices were issued to various business establishments on the island; along with 51 violation notices, claiming certain businesses were non-compliant with RA 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

In addition, DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said his agency would look into matters of accountability.

“We will make sure that those who are responsible or accountable [for] what happened to Boracay will be meted with appropriate sanctions,” he affirmed.

Meanwhile, despite saying, “It is business as usual in Boracay,” DOT-Region VI (DOT-6) director, Atty. Helen Catalbas, noted an uptick in the number of guest cancellations.

She explained, a total twelve accommodation establishments reported 64 rooms and 192 visitors have canceled reservations.

However, the latest figures, which the regional director called “insignificant,” are an increase from the numbers provided by DOT Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo earlier this week, who reported eight guest cancellations and 22 room cancellations since President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a clean-up of the island or face a shutdown if the ongoing pollution situation is not resolved within six months.

“We are here to save Boracay,” said Tulfo-Teo./PLL, WDJ