DENR firm on Boracay sewage treatment plants

MANILA, Philippines — Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu is standing pat on his decision to require establishments in Boracay to put up sewage treatment plants (STPs).

“The President’s order has always been to give premium to the environment rather than economic gains. The STP is non-negotiable. It is one of the primary requirements for the opening of Boracay,” Cimatu said.

Some stakeholders oppose the putting up of treatment plants either in clusters or individually, citing its cost.

With less than two months before the scheduled reopening of Boracay, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said only 30 percent of establishments on the island have put up STPs.

Cimatu said the putting up of STPs is a local ordinance, which has not been fully implemented.

“This time, the Boracay interagency task force will make sure that the STP requirement shall be enforced fully,” he said.

He appealed to stakeholders to help in the rehabilitation of the ecosystem in Boracay as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The Boracay interagency task force will hold a dry run of the reopening of the island from Oct. 15 to 25 to determine additional measures to be implemented. At least 1,000 rooms, to be determined by the Department of Tourism, will be opened.

The DENR also extended the operations of a one-stop shop until Sept. 7 to allow establishments to comply with the requirements. – Romina Cabrera