Malay Mayor urges stakeholders to voluntarily demolish establishments

The White Beach in Boracay (Photo By Dayanetang – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

In line with the clearing operations in the famous Boracay Island, Malay Mayor Ceciron Cawaling called on stakeholders and owners to demolish their own structures situated in beaches, sidewalks, and roads right-of-way in the White Beach on March 7.

The “voluntary demolition” conducted by the local government will take place in Manoc-manoc (proper), Tulubhan, Tambisaan, Cagban, and Malabunot in Barangay Manoc-manoc and Puka in Barangay Yapak.

“Ang boluntaryong demolisyon ay makakatulong para mapabilis ang paglilinis ng isla ng Boracay at maibalik natin ang angkin nitong ganda, alinsunod sa utos ng ating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa loob na anim na buwan (The voluntary demolition will help boost the clearing operations in Boracay island and reclaim its beauty, as directed by our President Rodrigo Duterte withon six months),” Cawaling said.

Structures at the beaches in Kandingon, Diniwid, Ilig-iligan, Bulabog, and Balinghai in Barangay Balabag, and the Boracay Beach are also included in the clearing operations.

The “Oplan Hawan” and the demolition of the structures along beaches and roads in the island were part of the six-month action plan of the local government of Malay to address environmental woes in the area.

In response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to address environmental issues in Boracay, the local government presented its clean-up plan to the island’s stakeholders last February 27.

This six-month plan also includes repair of the drainage system, water treatment facilities, and the steps to address over the construction of facilities, pollution, and overcrowding in the tourist destination.

Meanwhile, senators on March 4 said that they want to file criminal charges against local officials and business owners liable for the pollution in the White Beach.

The joint probe into the environmental woes hounding the world-famous White Beach, which consisted of Senate panels, committees on environment and natural resources, tourism, local government, and finance, began last Friday.

The inquiry was headed by Senator Cynthia Villar and was vice-chaired by Senator Loren Legarda. They were joined by Senators Nancy Binay, Joel Villanueva, and Miguel Zubiri.

Villar and Legarda said that it was obvious that there were violations of environmental laws, and that government officials failed to impose these regulations as they were unable to sustain a clean environment in the region.

Duterte earlier threatened to close the popular tourist destination, describing the island as a ‘cesspool,’ if the environmental woes in the area will not be addressed in six months.