Only 180 of 2,300 Boracay establishments have complied with requirements —DENR

Only 180 of the 2,300 establishments in Boracay have complied with the requirements set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), weeks before the expected reopening of the island resort on October 26.

This was according to DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones during the hearing on the agency's proposed P24.17 billion budget for 2019, answering question from Senator Cynthia Villar.

"Based on latest figures, there are 180 compliant establishments but these include only compliance on environment and land requirement," Leones said.

"We will be discussing with the DOT (Department of Tourism) and DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) to finalize the list."

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said after complying with their requirements, the business owner still has to go to the DOT for accreditation.

Villar expressed concern that the number is still small amid the initial government projection that 30 percent of the establishments will be allowed to operate with Boracay opens to the public next month. 

"'Yung 180 ay 7.8 percent lang ng 2,300. Sabi niyo noon 30 percent ang magbubukas, eh naliliitan pa nga kami tapos as of today 180 lang,” she said.

Leones clarified that 2,000 establishments have already submitted their compliance requirements but these are still under validation.

"At least 2,000 plus have submitted their compliance requirements but they are now in the process of evaluation," he said.

"We still have to validate their documents. The 180 are establishments which have undergone the process."

Leones expressed optimism that they can finish the evaluation of 2,000 applications before the planned dry run on October 15.

The DENR has set up a one-stop shop to help the establishments comply with the requirements. —KBK, GMA News