ECC suspension of compliant Boracay firms lifted

MANILA, Philippines — The suspension of the environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) of compliant establishments in Boracay has been lifted, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said yesterday.

“In view of the upcoming opening of Boracay on Oct. 26... the Environmental Management Bureau regional office is... authorized to lift the suspension of the ECCs of all complying hotels and establishments,” Cimatu said in a memorandum to the directors of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and EMB in Western Visayas.

Cimatu ordered the suspension of the ECCs last July pending a review of the firms’ compliance with local and national laws. He also created a committee composed of representatives of the DENR, EMB and Mines and Geosciences Bureau to review the compliance of the establishments.

“The EMB regional office  shall continue to monitor the establishments despite the lifting of the suspension of their... ECCs as well as monitor all establishments issued with certificates of non-coverage (CNCs) to ensure their compliance with environmental laws and assure that no violation against the same is committed,” Cimatu said.

ECCs are issued to projects that pose potential risk or impact on the environment while CNCs are issued to those that are unlikely to cause adverse environmental impact.

The DENR has issued certificates of conditional approval to establishments considered 90 to 95 percent compliant with environmental regulations.