DENR ‘tokhang’ in Boracay

Taking the cue from the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has launched its own version of “tokhang” (Bisaya for “knock and plead”) in Boracay Island, Aklan.

DENR Regional Director Jim Sampulna told Manila Bulletin that his office is launching on Monday “Dalaw-Turo,” a grassroots campaign to curb degradation of the country’s number one beach destination.

Teams from DENR-Aklan, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) will visit Boracay’s hotels, resorts, restaurants, shops, and households to ask stakeholders and residents to do their part in preserving what is left of Boracay.

Last month, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said Boracay is DENR’s top priority in Western Visayas.

Cimatu is calling for solutions to recurring environmental problems blamed on the island’s tourism industry. The issues include garbage management, wastewater treatment, ensuring safe water quality, and regulated development.

The Malay town government, which has jurisdiction over Boracay, is proposing to raise the environmental fee charged tourists from P75 to P100.

Councilor Nenette Aguirre-Graf said the additional P25 will be used to buy reusable  canvass bags for the trash discarded by tourists.

The DENR is giving the Malay government until July 17 to remove an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 kilos of trash from Boracay.