Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu recently affirmed Boracay establishments found with illegal sewage connections would face immediate closure, saying he would cancel environment-related clearances until violations are addressed.

“We will hold them responsible and make them pay,” he stated.

The cabinet official noted, back in February, establishments found to be without a proper water system and not connected to the sewage system were issued notices by the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

At the time, the agency issued closure notices to around 300 establishments, which comprised of about 40 percent of all businesses operating on the resort island.

“It has been almost two months,” Cimatu said. “There is a lack of conscience [by the said establishments] to act on their own.”

In addition, last year, the DENR-EMB and the Community Environment Office-Boracay issued notices to 12 businesses after it was discovered pipes were being illegally connected to storm drains, which are intended for the collection of rainwater./WDJ