Hefty fines for non-compliant Boracay establishments

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Establishments in Boracay Island found violating the existing environmental laws, either the Clean Water Act or Clean Air Act, were fined amounting to P43 million by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Five establishments were imposed a total of P39 million fines for discharging untreated wastewater and for exceeding the DENR standards for effluent as prescribed by Republic Act No. 9245 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and its implementing rules and regulations.

Bulk of 219 establishments was cited by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB), a quasi-judicial body of DENR tasked to decide pollution cases, for violating Republic Act No. 8749 otherwise known as Clean Air Act.

DENR slapped P1.5 million fines against 110 establishments for violating Section 1, Rule 19 of RA 8749.

Also, 72 establishments were fined P2 million for violating Section 27 (c) of RA 9245. The violators were operating facilities that discharged regulated water pollutants without the valid required discharge permits.

Twenty-two establishments were likewise found violating both the provisions of RA 8749 and RA 9245. They were fined by PAB the sum of P900,000.

DENR had issued notices of violations (NOVs) to erring establishments that are contributing to water pollution in Boracay and ordering the latter to comply with the requirements of the environmental laws.  The firms were given one or two months to address their violations.

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), a line agency of DENR, then closely monitored the compliance of resorts, hotels and establishments.

If the issues were not addressed, the EMB will elevate the cases to PAB for administrative proceedings.