Resort owners urged: Follow the law

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale is urging resort owners in the southern town of Oslob to follow the law and not wait for authorities to put its “strong arm” down.

“Di pa man pud tingali parehas ka grabe sama sa Boracay. If it can be done now nga not necessarily closing, phase by phase, puwede pa,” Magpale said.

At least 67 structures owned by various resorts in the town are at risk of being demolished for allegedly violating the standard 20-meter easement from the shoreline.

Oslob is considered the second top tourist destination in Central Visayas. Local and foreign tourists visit the place for its beaches and for the chance to swim with whale sharks. Ten of the town’s barangays are facing the sea.

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) continue to study which structures in Oslob are encroaching the shore.

CENRO will conduct the same assessment in Bantayan and Camotes islands.

Magpale hopes the violations are solely on easement.

“I hope ang ilang violation kana rang sa easement. Wala pa ko kahibalo sa kadtong mga pipes sa ilalom,” she said yesterday.

The popular tourist island of Boracay has been closed down and will remain closed for the next six months for environmental violations. One of the reasons why it was closed was the discharge of untreated water by establishments directly to the sea.

Magpale said ongoing efforts to enforce laws strictly are intended to prevent tourist destinations in Cebu from facing a Boracay situation.

The Provincial Tourism Office has been visiting tourist sites and has assisted local government units in determining the carrying capacity of their destinations.

The Department of Tourism said that of the 6.9 million foreign tourists who arrive in the Philippines every year, about 2.9 million visit attractions in Central Visayas.

In CV, Mactan remains the top drawer of foreign tourists, followed by Oslob. — /JMO (FREEMAN)