DILG: Over 800 Boracay establishments have violations

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 2) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported Friday over 800 establishments in Boracay island are facing various violations.

DILG Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said the establishments, which have yet to be named, have violated laws and rules since 2001.

He added there were establishments without permit, while others had a permit to operate but lacked an environmental compliance certificate.

Año said Boracay is going through "organized chaos," and ordered violators to voluntarily dismantle their establishments or face demolition.

The island has over 50,000 people roaming about per day, and each person generates two-and-a half kilograms of waste.

Senators Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva and Miguel Zubiri will hold a Senate panel hearing at the island, as part of their investigation.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar will join Año and the senators.

On February 10, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Environment Department to clean up Boracay within six months or else he would order its closure.

Read: Duterte orders DENR to clean up Boracay in 6 month

As of February 22, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued 81 notices of violation to establishments with environmental lapses.

Read: DENR issues notices of violation to 81 erring Boracay establishments

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who estimated only 50 to 60 percent of Boracay establishments comply with the Clean Water Act, earlier warned violating companies he would give them two months to install or connect to the island's sewage treatment facility or face closure.

Read: DENR: Erring Boracay establishments have 2 months to 'shape up'

Aside from sending show-cause orders to facilities not connected to sewage treatment plants, the DENR also plans to dismantle illegal structures and identify properties built on Boracay's wetlands and forest lands.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has also suspended accreditation for Boracay hotels and resorts for six months, to stop "continued harmful disposal of wastewater" into the seas surrounding three of Boracay's barangays: Balabag, Manoc-Manoc, and Yapac.

It said new applications and applications for renewal of DOT accreditation have been put on hold until concerned establishments present their environment compliance certificates.

CNN Philippines' Correspondent Cecille Lardizabal contributed to this report.