DENR memo inalmahan ng Bora Foundation

INALMAHAN ng Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) ang Memorandum Circular No. 2018, 06 ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Sa kautusan na inilabas nitong 26 Hunyo 2o18, inaa­tasan ang lahat ng establisi­miyento na magkaroon ng sariling Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).

Sa isinumiteng liham ni BFI president Nenette A. Graf kay DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, binanggit na kanilang sinu­suportahan ang isinagawang rehabilatasyon sa isla ngunit kanilang tinututulan ang memorandum, dahil salungat ito sa batas ng water and waste­water management.

“Requiring all establish­ments to build their own STPs and treat water at source, when there is a properly functioning centralized sewer network is in contradiction to existing laws. The BFI and the DENR both share the same hope that the closure will not happen again, it is therefore imperative that regulations such as this memorandum be properly consulted, clearly explained, and fair to all parties con­cerned,” nakapaloob pa sa liham.

Idiniin ng BFI na ang memo­randum ay direktang lumabag sa Philippine Clean Water Act (RA 9275).

Sa memorandum ng DENR, inoobliga ang lahat ng hotels, resorts o kaparehong establi­syemento sa beach area na mayroong 50 kuwarto na mag­ka­roon ng sarling STP habang ang mayroong 49 ku­warto pababa ay mayroong clustered STP.

Nakasaad sa liham, ang mga establisimiyento sa isla na ilang taon nang nag-o-operate ay nakakasunod sa usapin ng wastewater discharge dahil nakakabit sila sa isang cen­tralized sewer network.

“The main question now becomes why is the burden to treat wastewater at source delegated to the private sector, when the applicable laws clearly state that it is the government or the water provider’s respon­sibility to treat wastewater?” tanong ng BFI.

“As presented to the BFI by Boracay Water, the company is capable of treating their own water supplied. Logically, they are not capable of treating that of Boracay Tubi customers, especially un­knowing how much water is supplied by Boracay Tubi. Based on reports provided to the BFI, Boracay Water is currently expediting the up­grading of their lines to improve and expand the efficiency of their sewer network,” dagdag BFI.

Igiinit ng foundation na isang malaking panganib sa kalikasan na pahintulutan ang daan-daang mga esta­bli­simiyento na magpatakbo ng modular STP at direktang mailabas ang mga imbakang-tubig sa dagat.

Dahil dito, nais ng BFI na bawiin ng DENR ang kautusan nito kung ibig nila na hindi na muling maulit ang pagpapasara sa Boracay.

(ALMAR DANGUILAN)