The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Thursday warned “negligent” outgoing local executives were not yet off the hook over failure to revoke mayor’s permit of violating establishments in El Nido, Palawan.
“There are only a minimal number of local government units who followed the instruction to temporarily revoke the mayor’s permit of violators, that’s why there is a need to show some force on irresponsible local executives,” Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns Benny Antiporda said.
The DENR earlier issued cease-and-desist orders to 10 hotels and restaurants found polluting Bacuit Bay in El Nido, one of the country’s tourism hotspots undergoing massive rehabilitation along with Boracay Island, Aklan, and Manila Bay.
“There are only a minimal number of local government units who followed the instruction to temporarily revoke the mayor’s permit of violators, that’s why there is a need to show some force on irresponsible local executives,” Antiporda said.
The response of local governments to temporarily suspend the mayor’s permit of erring establishments in their respective political jurisdiction once the DENR has submitted its lists of violators is crucial to prevent further contamination of waterways.
“We’re expecting full support coming from our local government once we have submitted our lists of violators in their respective areas. We expect them to act by temporarily suspending the mayor’s permit so as to prevent the wastewater discharge from contaminating our waterways,” Antiporda said.
A week ago, DENR’s Region 4B issued cease-and-desist orders to El Nido Sea Shell Resorts and Hotel, Doublegem Beach Resort and Hotel, Buko Beach Resort, Panorama Resort (Mangonana Inc.), Four Seasons Seaview Hotel, Stunning Republic Beach Resort, Sava Beach Bar/Sava Nest Egg Inc., El Nido Beach Hotel, and The Nest El Nido Resorts and Spa Inc. for violation of the Clean Water Act.
The enforcement of the Clean Water Act applies not only on the establishments in Palawan but on other establishments nationwide.
Antiporda called on the local government units to act immediately on establishments issued with cease-and-desist orders by the DENR by temporarily canceling their permits to compel them to comply with environmental laws and avoid further degradation of the environment.
“If the outgoing officials still have the chance to prove their worth to their constituents before they leave, then they should do it. Otherwise, we will file cases against them if they have neglected their duty to enforce environmental laws,” he said.
According to Antiporda, once the establishments are found discharging wastewater not in accordance with prescribed standards, he said both the sources of water and of the discharge will be sealed, but said this cannot be done without the action from the local government.