At least 19 inland resorts in Marilog District, Davao City were found to be operating without an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office-Davao (DENR-11) said.

EMB said out of the 22 establishments surveyed in the area, only two have secured an ECC while one has a certificate of non-coverage.

These inland resorts have mushroomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some others were ordered closed by the local government due to lack of business permit.

EMB has started monitoring these establishments in 2021 when pandemic restrictions have eased.

“Pinatawan na sila ng notice of violation. Pinatawag na rin ng technical conference and they are required to comply with the requirements to secure the environmental compliance certificate,” EMB-11 Chemicals and Hazardous Waste Permitting Section Chief, Myhrra Fair Barquilla, said.

During the technical conference initiated by EMB-11, the establishments have expressed their intention to comply with the ECC, but they could not be given such because the structures are not within the tourism zone.

“They are not within the tourism zone so they cannot be given the required documents from the planning, from the City Zoning Office. So, kapag hindi sila inallow sa area na ‘yun, they cannot be given with environmental compliance certificate and kapag hindi din sila i-issuehan ng business permit ng local government, so the local government can impose closure or stoppage of operation of such firm,” Barquilla added.

EMB-11 can reportedly issue a cease a cease and desist order and non-compliant establishments will be fined. The local government unit also has the authority not to issue a business permit.

The legal division of DENR-11 and the establishments in question will reportedly agree on the deadline for compliance.