DENR alleges environmental problems in El Nido

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Monday that they discovered several sanitation and environmental violations in the famous tourist destination of El Nido in Palawan.

According to the DENR, commercial establishments and residential areas in Bacuit Bay had been built over the  three-meter easement zone, bringing them too close to the sea. 

In places like Barangay Masagana and Barangay Buena Serte, sewage could be seen being discharged towards the sea.

"Nakikita ng DENR is really 'yung sa compliance doon sa Clean Water Act. 'Yun 'yung nakikita nila, 'yung pag-discharge ng waste water," municipal administrator RJ Dela Calzada told GMA 7 news program "24 Oras".

"Karamihan 'yan ay nanggagaling sa pamahayanan, sa bayan ng El Nido. Dahil nga sa simula pa lamang ang local government ay walang sewerage system, walang water system," added  Henry Fernandez, president of the Cottages Resorts Association of El Nido.

According to the Beachwatch Annual Report of El Nido, Barangays Masagana and Buena Serte had failed water quality tests as their waters were found to be contaminated with the coliform bacteria.

The local government said they had addressed the situation.

"We have a centralized STP project, it's a two-year construction bago po siya mag-operate, wherein the household and the business sector will automatically connect to that centralized STP," explained Dela Calzada.

To address the problem, the DENR has issued eviction notices against 32 commercial establishments in the area.

The agency ordered the establishments to "self-demolish" within 30 days.

"Nagkaroon ng notice na 32 sa mga establishment na kung saan sila po 'yung nag-encroach doon sa mga established easement and salvation na three meters na doon sa coastal areas," said Felizardo Cayatoc of DENR Penro, Palawan.

Resort owners meanwhile appealed for a delay and asked that the demolitions would be carried out after the summer season.

"Wala namang problema, payag naman silang i-demolish, nakakahiya lang daw sa mga nagkaroon na ng reservation, sa mga guest na parating..." Fernandez explained.

According to Department of Tourism data 66,000 tourists, most of whom were foreigners, visited El Nido in 2016. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA News