THE interagency Task Force Boracay will trace the sources of several illegal pipes that were recently uncovered near the White Beach on Boracay Island, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
DENR Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones, the designated spokesman of Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, said in a text message that the DENR will file appropriate charges against homeowners or business establishments that discharge untreated wastewater through illegal sewer or pipe lines.
Leones, the DENR’s undersecretary for policy, planning, international affairs and foreign-assisted projects, said there could be more of such. He added the DENR is determined to uncover all the illegal pipes, cut the illegal connection, remove the pipes and file appropriate charges against the culprits.
“We will later trace the source, file charges and cut the connection,” he said. “We will conduct water quality sampling.”
According to Leones, the DENR will comb all the beaches on Boracay beginning with Bulabog Beach next week. There are a total of 17 beaches around Boracay Island, which is famous for its white-sand beaches and pristine waters.
During the Task Force Boracay meeting last Saturday, Cimatu reported the discovery by Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) personnel of a total 33 pipes within the vicinity of the White Beach, the largest and most popular beach on the island.
Leones said the discovery of the illegal pipes bolstered his suspicion that other businesses already connected to sewer lines may be guilty of discharging untreated wastewater using hidden pipes.
This, he said, justifies his earlier pronouncement to recommend a review of the implementing rules and regulation of the Clean Water Act, that exempts a business establishment from securing discharge permits once they are already connected—in the case of Boracay—to either the Boracay Island Water Co. (BIWC) or Lucio Tan’s Boracay Tubi Systems Inc. (BTSI).
During the Task Force Boracay meeting on May 18, Cimatu reported an improved cooperation between and among Boracay’s stakeholders, noting the “positive response of the locals in the rehabilitation efforts” on the island, the country’s top tourist destination in the municipality of Malay, Aklan province.
The BIWC has committed to diverting the drainage outfall before it goes to the sea and to clean up identified areas of the drainage system.
The company also vowed to rechannel the “black pipeline” to the BIWC Balabag sewage-treatment plant (STP) for treatment. As for the “blue pipeline” wastewater discharge, it will be diverted to the Tieza Pumping Station, which will be rechanneled to the BIWC Balabag and Manoc-Manoc STP, where it will be treated before discharge.
The BTSI, on the other hand, vowed to work on the treatment of the drainage outfalls as well as rehabilitate Wetland No. 6.
Cimatu also reported that the rehabilitation of all drainage lines being undertaken by the Office of the Provincial Engineering Office is almost complete.
Also, the DENR chief said the demolition of structures from Cagban to Rotondo Road had been completed as part of the clearing of the road easement on the island.
The demolition of illegal structures along the main road, he added, is still ongoing, while other structures have been voluntarily dismantled by concerned residents and businessmen.
In removing illegal structures that violate the 25+5 meter no-build zone easement, Cimatu said 206 establishments were already issued show-cause orders. More show-cause orders will be issued to cover all 308 establishments that were found to have constructed illegally within the no-build zone.
Meanwhile, a total of 341 of the 842 illegal forest occupants have been issued a notice to vacate while all the 195 establishments not connected to sewer lines have been issued with notices of violation by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau.
Last week Cimatu had issued an order stopping all construction activities on the island in response to reports that a property developer had shaved a portion of a forest and flattened a mountain to pave the way for the construction of a multimillion-peso condominium project.