By ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ
The inter-agency task force that led the clean up of Boracay Island will also monitor and lead the rehabilitation of other top tourist destinations in the country.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu, who also heads the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, said they will replicate Boracay’s model of rehabilitation in other famous tourist destinations, such as El Nido and Coron in Palawan.
Aside from Palawan, the task force will also visit Panglao Island in Bohol and Siargao in Surigao del Norte next week, Cimatu said.
“As the rehabilitation efforts in Boracay are ongoing until December, we decided to continue the President’s mandate to check the other top tourist destinations in the country,” Cimatu said.
The DENR chief promised that he will “dedicate a large portion of the DENR presence in Palawan” to focus on the rehabilitation of El Nido and Coron.
“We have to maintain Palawan as the last ecological frontier of the country,” Cimatu said.
He, however, clarified that El Nido and Coron will not be closed down to tourists just like what the government did to Boracay, which underwent a six-month rehabilitation before it was reopened last October 26.
Instead, he said that only the establishments with violations will be shut down.
Meanwhile, Cimatu said he already instructed the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau to check the water quality in El Nido.
He revealed that a study on El Nido’s carrying capacity will also be conducted.
Just like in Boracay, Cimatu said the DENR will make sure that all establishments in El Nido will be required to have sewage and wastewater treatment facilities.