DENR maintains zero construction policy in Boracay forest areas

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) maintains the "no build zone" policy in forest areas in this resort island.

Merlyn Aborka of the PENRO said they continue to receive reports of several new constructions ongoing in declared forest areas in this resort island.

"The DENR continues to maintain moratorium that we are not giving new environmental compliance certificates (ECC's) to new constructions. What the DENR gives is the ECC for the upgrading of resorts only," said Aborka, adding that it was the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR which issues the ECCs.

The PENRO together with the regional and national DENR officials are currently studying how to properly implement land use and zoning plan in this resort island.

"Our main problem is even though we wanted to implement no build policy in forest areas, some investors are still pushing for their construction of resorts even without necessary government clearances. This illegal activity destroys our already dwindling forest cover in Boracay," Aborka added.

Boracay has around 400 hectares of preserved forest land and 628.96 hectares of agricultural land.