Authorities unearth illegal Boracay sewage pipe

A pipe which discharged blackened, foul-smelling water out to sea was discovered Tuesday at Boracay Island.

According to a report on GMA 7 news program "24 Oras", the pipe was buried along White Beach, close to Station 2.

The sewage duct was dug up by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) in Malay, Aklan after being notified by a concerned citizen.

Aside from the sand, the pipe was also reportedly concealed under several sacks.

Authorities have started tracing the sewage pipe to its source.

Samples of the contaminated water were also sent to the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) for testing.

"Violation po ito sa Clean Water Act po natin kasi may illegal discharge po nito ng unfiltered water," lawyer Richard Fabila of CENRO-Malay explained.

"Nakakuha na kami ng sample nung tubig at nadala na rin sa laboratory ng EMB at malalaman po natin kung ano 'yung dumi, 'yung chemical concentration po 'yung tubig," he added. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News