BY NESTOR P. BURGOS, JR.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has entered into a 25-year land-lease agreement for the continued operation of a controversial resort in Boracay accused of committing environmental and other violations.
Environment Secretary Jose Atienza said the DENR and Boracay Island West Cove Management Philippines Inc. signed a Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAGT) several weeks ago.
A FLAGT, under DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-59, allows the use, occupation and development of any forest land for tourism purposes for 25 years and renewable for the same period.
The agreement covers forest land to be used for bathing, campsites, ecotourism destinations, hotel sites and other tourism purposes.
“The FLAGT was signed after a thorough study of the department and after determining that the requirements have been met,” Atienza said in a phone interview on Monday.
A copy of the six-page agreement obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer from a source had no date of issuance but bears the signatures of Atienza and Crisostomo Aquino, owner of the Boracay West Cove resort.
Aquino is a close friend of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who is in turn a protégé of Atienza.
The agreement covers 998 square meters of land in Sitio (sub-village) Diniwid in Barangay (village) Balabag, one of the three villages on the 1,032-hectare island. It requires that development should be “compatible with tourism projects for the protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources in the area.”
The FLAGT will take effect after payment of a bond of P199,600 and annual government fees of P99,000.
The Boracay Foundation Inc. and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industries had earlier called for an immediate stop to construction activities at the resort, claiming that structures were being erected over coral reefs and in no-build zone areas of the island.
They questioned the resort’s operation since 2007 even without permits from the local government and the DENR, and despite violating a municipal ordinance barring the construction of its structures.
Aquino had explained that the resort had already applied for business and other permits, but that these could not be issued until they could secure a FLAGT.
Atienza denied allegations that the resort was building structures over coral reefs.
“Our official study showed that the structures were built on rock formations, not coral reefs. We will not allow any violations,” he said.
He said there were existing building and environmental law violations in Boracay, “but these are being corrected by all these legal procedures.”
Environment Secretary Jose Atienza said the DENR and Boracay Island West Cove Management Philippines Inc. signed a Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAGT) several weeks ago.
A FLAGT, under DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-59, allows the use, occupation and development of any forest land for tourism purposes for 25 years and renewable for the same period.
The agreement covers forest land to be used for bathing, campsites, ecotourism destinations, hotel sites and other tourism purposes.
“The FLAGT was signed after a thorough study of the department and after determining that the requirements have been met,” Atienza said in a phone interview on Monday.
A copy of the six-page agreement obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer from a source had no date of issuance but bears the signatures of Atienza and Crisostomo Aquino, owner of the Boracay West Cove resort.
Aquino is a close friend of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who is in turn a protégé of Atienza.
The agreement covers 998 square meters of land in Sitio (sub-village) Diniwid in Barangay (village) Balabag, one of the three villages on the 1,032-hectare island. It requires that development should be “compatible with tourism projects for the protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources in the area.”
The FLAGT will take effect after payment of a bond of P199,600 and annual government fees of P99,000.
The Boracay Foundation Inc. and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industries had earlier called for an immediate stop to construction activities at the resort, claiming that structures were being erected over coral reefs and in no-build zone areas of the island.
They questioned the resort’s operation since 2007 even without permits from the local government and the DENR, and despite violating a municipal ordinance barring the construction of its structures.
Aquino had explained that the resort had already applied for business and other permits, but that these could not be issued until they could secure a FLAGT.
Atienza denied allegations that the resort was building structures over coral reefs.
“Our official study showed that the structures were built on rock formations, not coral reefs. We will not allow any violations,” he said.
He said there were existing building and environmental law violations in Boracay, “but these are being corrected by all these legal procedures.”
What about the ordinance for constructing 50 meter set back from high tide?
ReplyDeleteits 25 meters from high tide, but applying that to cliffside areas would knock out a ton of places.
ReplyDeleteThis is the guy everyone was happy got sent from DENR but now he lied. The original complaint didnt say a godamn thing about "over coral", it said infractions against messing with the bat caves, which they are 100% in violation of to this very day. They blocked off one small flight tube.
I dont think anyone gives a shit about government fees, I think its they were allowed to build where everyone else was told NO and now are not charged with a a single thing. Was it a crime? YES. Did they have the most basic permits.. NO. Is that a crime... YES. Is anyone getting charged?..... NO. If it was a white person they would have had the Tirols thretening to kill their family.
Interesting… I might try some of this on my blog, too. It’s quite interesting how you sometimes stop being innovative and just go for an accepted solution without actually trying to improve it… you make a couple of good points
ReplyDelete. online marketing