DENR warns fixers, impostors in Boracay

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has advised the establishments in Boracay Island to stop dealing with fixers and ‘impostors’ posing as agency’s officials.

PHOTO DENR 

CENRO-Boracay chief Atty. Richard Fabila issued the warning after several business owners were allegedly asked to pay P30,000 to P60,000 each to facilitate their transactions with DENR in exchange for the instant release of clearances.

“May nag-iikot na mga tao dati na nagpapakilala na taga DENR. Ibinigay ang ganitong impormasyon ng mga resorts sa atin na bumalik na naman ang mga taong ito. Dapat ang mga owners na mismo ang mag-asikaso para maintidihan nila ang mga proseso,” Fabila added.

Fabila said business owners or authorized representatives are encouraged to personally process their certifications, business permits and clearances in the one-stop shop in CityMall Boracay. 

The one-stop shop will operate until September 15 after business groups in the island appealed with the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force to extend its operations.

“Ang mga may-ari ay hindi na dapat gumastos ng malaki dahil dito naman sa isla ang ating mga ahensiya at hindi kailangang bumiyahe sa Iloilo. Pumunta kayo at mag-inquire sa proseso at mga kailangang gawin sa mga permits ninyo,” he added.

Fabila said business owners have to pay P140 for the issuance of certificates on alienable and disposable and land status required for the processing of building permits and environmental clearance certificates (ECC).

Clearances for compliance of 25+5 setback and easement for establishments are also issued free of charge by DENR.

Three months ago, unknown individuals also tried to extort money from business owners in Boracay by promising to remove their establishments from the list of violators of environmental laws.

The island's ongoing rehabilitation and clean-up since April 26 is spearheaded by government agencies under the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force to address the environmental problems and to improve infrastructure facilities for tourists and residents.