Aurora resorts without ECCs – DENR exec

BALER, AURORA, Philippines – More than 90 percent of the beach resorts in this province are operating without Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs), an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Friday.

The lack of ECC poses a risk to the province’s tourism industry, according to the regional director of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), which is tasked to issue the certificate for a proposed project.

The EMB issues the ECC after reviewing a project’s specifications.

The permit certifies that a proposed project will have no negative impact on the environment.

Cyril Coliflores, DENR provincial officer, said except for a few resorts and hotels in the capital, a majority failed to secure the ECCs.

Coliflores said most of the resorts were found accommodating tourists beyond their capacities.

He said the EMB in Central Luzon is training pollution control officers to address the emerging urban blight brought by tourist migration.

Lormelyn Claudio, EMB regional director, said the tourism surge has resulted in the mushrooming of souvenir shops.

She said the EMB has been conducting seminars for local government units and resort operators to help them cope with the tourism boom.

Vice Gov. Rommel Rico Teh Angara said they have called the attention of the municipal planning officers and engineers, particularly in the capital to compel resort owners and operators to comply with the ECC requirement.