25 Boracay establishments face closure

THE Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group (BIARMG) has started distributing notices of closure to about 25 establishments that failed to get business permits and violated the road easement law.

Natividad Bernardino, chair of the BIARMG, said they started distributing the closure order Monday, June 17. 

The 25 establishments were part two of the crackdown undertaken by the BIARMG against erring establishment owners in the resort island. Last month, the group closed down 11 shops, many of whom were Chinese firms.

"The BIARMG has been giving the establishments notices to comply since April but until now, they are remiss. We have to enforce the closure order in order to remind the establishments that we mean business in rehabilitating Boracay," Bernardino said.

Among the shops that face closure are a famous health and wellness shop, a commercial bank, and cellphone repair shops, among others.

Bernardino said they had informed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu that they are investigating several DENR officials who are allegedly giving out certification to establishments that have existing violations.

She said there may be a third round of closure, as they await the next set of elected officials who sit starting July 1.