16 Boracay businesses responsible for 26 illegal sewage pipes — DENR

According to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) documents acquired by GMA News, 16 Boracay establishments had allegedly laid and buried 26 illegal sewage pipes which discharged waste directly into the sea.

Several of these implicated establishment were major hotels in Boracay.

Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones told GMA 7 news program “24 Oras Weekend” on Saturday that there had been a "deliberate attempt" to conceal the illegal sewage pipes.

"Doon naiinis ang ating kalihim at doon naiinis ang ating inter-agency dahil parang hindi natin nakikita ang suporta at pakikipagtulungan ng mga establisimyento d'yan sa Boracay," Leones added.

The DENR would seek explanations from the involved establishments, and if it was proven that violations were committed, the matter would be endorsed to the Pollution Adjudication Board for possible fines and criminal charges.

The search for illegal sewage pipes was part of the government's Boracay rehabilitation effort, which began after President Rodrigo Duterte called the island a "cesspool" in February.

On April 26, non-residents, including thousands of paying tourists, were been barred from entering the world-famous resort-island after the DENR and other agencies recommended its closure until October.

The unearthed pipes had prompted Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to readjust the timetable for the island's rehabilitation, which they initially thought would take six months.

"Medyo na-offset na 'yung time table natin kasi...wala sana itong ganitong trabaho sa official plan," Cimatu explained. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News