200 Siargao establishments issued ECC violation notices

MANILA, Philippines — Two hundred establishments in Siargao Island have been issued notices of violation for operating without an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said over the weekend.

The notices came after officials confirmed that 83 percent of tourism-related businesses in the country’s surfing capital do not have an ECC.

After receiving the notices, the establishments were compelled to secure ECCs, according Nonito Tamayo, DENR Caraga executive director.

Latest data from the DENR showed that only 192 establishments representing 17 percent of 1,108 tourism-related businesses in Siargao have ECCs.

The rest, or 916 commercial establishments representing 83 percent, operate without ECCs.

Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones said these establishments would have no reason not to secure ECCs with the launching of the “DENR Services on Wheels” on the island.

“Resort owners said they are willing to comply. It is a matter of educating them on what to do. The services on wheels aims to address the needs of the establishments,” Leones said.

He said the mobile initiative is a one-stop shop that provides communities with routine services without the need for them to go to the mainland.

“Through the Project Transform and DENR Services on Wheels, we would periodically check all establishments to ensure that they have the necessary permits to operate,” Leones said.

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga stressed the need to have a master plan in Siargao.

Joselin Marcus Fragada, DENR Undersecretary for field operations in Mindanao, clarified that the agency does not want to hurt the tourism industry of Siargao.

“We want them to be responsible. That is why the end goal of the DENR Services on Wheels is the establishment of CENRO, so they will have no reason not to apply or an ECC. We brought the services to them,” Fragada said, referring to the city environment and natural resources office.