DENR: No forced evacuation of Boracay wetlands residents

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in wetlands in Boracay will not be evicted unless they are provided a decent relocation site, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“We have to find a place for them... we will recover the wetlands because this is like the kidneys of the island. But before we ask them to leave the wetlands... we have to find a relocation site for them. This is one of the things that we are going to do after the six-month closure, “ DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said yesterday.

Cimatu vowed to recover the wetlands to restore the ecosystem on the island.

He said the DENR is prioritizing four of nine wetlands, where residential structures and commercial buildings were built, noting that these contribute to water pollution.   

Cimatu said waste from structures in these wetlands drain into the sea during high tide.

There are about 400 hectares of wetlands or nearly half of the 1,000-hectare island.

 Wetlands serve as natural water storage, water filter and habitat for aquatic plants, fish and wildlife.

Cimatu said the DENR is also focused on improving the sewerage system on the island.

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