87 violators found on Panglao Island

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR- 7) has identified at least 87 establishments violating environmental laws on Panglao Island, Bohol.

The owners of these establishments will be issued with Notices of Violations for encroaching on the 20-meter easement zone.

“We will issue notices to these establishments and they will be given enough time to comply and conduct voluntary clearing of the structures,” DENR-7 Director Gilbert C. Gonzales said.

The regional director said the notices of violations will be issued as a result of the initial assessment and inventory conducted by the members of the task force created to monitor compliance of environmental laws by establishments along the coastal areas in Bohol.

DENR-7 earlier formed the Regional Foreshore Area Task Force to conduct inventory and inspection of all establishments along coastal areas on Panglao Island so as to protect the tourism destinations and ecological sites there.

Gonzales said the task force reported that majority of the structures found within easement are concrete pathways, native cottages, residential cottages, concrete stairs, swimming pools, and seawalls owned by private business establishments.

Presidential Decree 1067 or the Water Code of the Philippines states that, “the shores of the seas and lakes throughout their entire length and within a zone of three meters in urban area, 20 meters in agricultural areas and 40 meters in forest areas, along their margins, are subject to the easement of public use in the interest of recreation, navigation, flotage, fishing and salvage.”

“We are set to complete our delineation and assessment of the entire Panglao Island in partnership with local government units,” he added. (FREEMAN)