BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The temporary closure of Boracay beach resorts, to allow authorities to fix the environmental problems, sent a strong warning to all local government unit officials, beach owners and communities to end environmental abuse.
Thus DENR – Bataan headed by PENRO Raymond Rivera held a meeting among LGU officials, beach owners and other stakeholders to have a ran through/updates on the present situation of beach resorts/communities in the municipalities of Mariveles, Bagac and Morong, where most of the prominent beach resorts and tourist facilities are located.
In his welcome message, Rivera said that what happened in Boracay is actually happening across the nation including Bataan, that this early, everyone should learn from the Boracay incident.
PENRO Rivera also said that during the launching of “TAYO ang KALIKASAN” held in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, DENR Secretary Roy Cimato instructed that DENR should immediately and strictly enforce environmental laws to avoid another Boracay mayhem. However, Rivera emphasized that their action should be more of a helping coordination among LGU officials, key employees, beach owners and for the DENR working force to deal first with the needs and problems in the said municipalities.
The presence of Mayor Ace Jello Concepcion of Mariveles, Mayor Gab del Rosario of Bagac and Mayor Cynthia Estanislao of Morong made the discussion about the problems in their municipalities with the DENR technical people complementing their needs and supporting their activities more fruitful.
In the end, the group agreed to create a Task Force with permanent personnel and focal person to be in-charge of each LGU, that a regular meeting will be continued, to have a plan of action with the time frame, but were heeded to be careful in said plan of action to avoid negative effects and legal implications.
Rivera thanked all the participants adding that all their reports will be submitted to the Regional Office with strict compliance, supervision and monitoring.
