The Ati tribe of Boracay Island finally realized their lifelong dream to own the land where they and generations of their ancestors have lived.

On Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in the island to distribute Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to the Ati tribe following his pronouncement during Boracay’s rehabilitation that the entire island will be declared as a land reform area.

The President urged them to “till the land, make it productive” during the 10 years from the date of award, when the land cannot be sold, mortagaged and encumbered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) chair was on hand to witness the historic handover of CLOAs led by the President and Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones at the Manocmanoc Covered Court.

Also present were BIATF co-chair Eduardo Ano, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bauista, Aklan Gov. Miraflores and Malay Acting Mayor Abram Sualog.

Cimatu said the occasion affirms that the rehabilitation of Boracay aims to benefit all Aklanons most especially the Atis who are the original inhabitants of the island.

“We join the Ati tribe and the ARBs in thanking the President for this gift. It is but fitting to cap the first phase of the island's rehab with the awarding of CLOAs that secure ownership of their land,” said Cimatu.

Five CLOAs were awarded to the ATI Tribal Organization of Boracay Island on behalf of its 44 members. The CLOAs were received by Delsa Justo, Evangeline Tamboon, Maria Tamboon, Susana Bartolome, Loreto Francisco and Guillermo Vicente, Jr.

CLOAs were also distributed to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) from the municipalities of Malay, Buruanga and Tangalan in Aklan.

A total of 623 CLOAs were awarded to 484 ARBs covering 274.0352 hectares.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) facilitated the distribution of CLOAS following the President’s pronouncement to distribute the lands in Boracay through land reform.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 407 dated June 14, 1990 or Accelerating the Acquisition and Distribution of Agricultural Lands, Pasture Lands, Fishponds, Agroforestry Lands and other Lands of the Public Domain Suitable for Agriculture, all government instrumentalities including the DENR shall immediately execute Deeds of Transfer in favor of the Republic of the Philippines as represented by the Department of Agrarian Reform and surrender to the latter department all landholdings, suitable for agriculture including all pertinent ownership documents in their custody to effect the transfer of ownership.

Further, Presidential Proclamation 1064 classifies “Boracay Island into forestland (protection purposes) and agricultural land (alienable and disposable) pursuant to Presidential Decree 705 or the revised Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines.”

To process the CLOAs, the DENR and DAR conducted a joint validation and ground survey of Boracay Island. The DENR then issued a Deed of Transfer to DAR to signify that DENR is transferring its jurisdiction to title the land to DAR.

A CLOA is a tenurial instrument showing ownership of the land granted or awarded to the beneficiary by DAR. It prohibits the sale or lease of the land for at least 10 years.

As opposed to a TCT or Transfer Certificate of Title which is issued by the DENR to occupants of alienable and disposable lands, a CLOA is distributed to the occupants of a land by virtue of land reform.

According to the Department of Agrarian Reform, the acquisition and distribution of lands will secure the tenure of farmers over the lands they till. With the ownership, the farmers can freely plan the development and harness the potentials of these lands thus optimizing their productivity.

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Parent Category: News & Events

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Published: 13 November 2018

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The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) is working to fast-track the approval process for the 10-year solid waste management plans (SWMPs) submitted by more than 1,600 cities and municipalities across the country.

NSWMC is the major agency tasked to oversee the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which requires each local government unit (LGU) to submit an SWMP that is being updated every 10 years. The commission is composed of various government agencies led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

According to DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGU Concerns Benny Antiporda, only around 400 SWMPs were approved so far out of the more than 1,600 submitted by LGUs as early as 2014.

“We have a backlog of around 1,200 SWMPs that’s why we really need to fast track the approval process so the LGUs may implement their respective plans for addressing garbage problems in their localities,” Antiporda pointed out.

In fact, Antiporda disclosed that the DENR-led body has approved the SWMPs of 67 LGUs during its three en banc meetings in October. The SWMPs cover the years 2014-2023, 2015-2024, 2017-2026, and 2018-2027.

Among those approved last month were the SWMPs of the cities of Legazpi, Calapan and Mandaue, as well as several municipalities in Abra, Pampanga, Oriental Mindoro, Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Zamboanga del Norte, Saranggani and Maguindanao provinces.

Antiporda said that “starting November, the NSWMC will try to approve 100 SWMPs a month until the backlog is cleared.”

“Before, the NSWMC used to approve only 10 or 20 plans a month,” he noted.

The approved SWMPs include strategies on residual, recyclable, biodegradable and special wastes such as the strict implementation of the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy, recycling of single-use plastics, and composting and construction of vault for health care wastes. Municipal ordinances in support of these strategies were also identified.

Since August this year, the NSWMC has been awarding certificates to LGUs whose SWMPs have been approved through resolutions issued by the commission.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the certificates not only signifies compliance by LGUs to the requirement to submit SWMPs, as it also provides as a guarantee for them to adhere with all the provisions of RA 9003.

“This is our way of ensuring the commitment of LGUs to proper solid waste management,” Cimatu said.

“We want to make sure local leaders have a document that serves as a reminder of their duties and responsibilities under the law,” the environment chief added.

Under RA 9003, LGUs are primarily responsible for waste segregation and disposal.

The law provides for a systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management program that includes SWM activities such as avoidance, reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and proper disposal of residual waste. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 08 November 2018

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NSWMC is the major agency tasked to oversee the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which requires each local government unit (LGU) to submit an SWMP that is being updated every 10 years. The commission is composed of various government agencies led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

According to DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGU Concerns Benny Antiporda, only around 400 SWMPs were approved so far out of the more than 1,600 submitted by LGUs as early as 2014.

“We have a backlog of around 1,200 SWMPs that’s why we really need to fast track the approval process so the LGUs may implement their respective plans for addressing garbage problems in their localities,” Antiporda pointed out.

In fact, Antiporda disclosed that the DENR-led body has approved the SWMPs of 67 LGUs during its three en banc meetings in October. The SWMPs cover the years 2014-2023, 2015-2024, 2017-2026, and 2018-2027.

Among those approved last month were the SWMPs of the cities of Legazpi, Calapan and Mandaue, as well as several municipalities in Abra, Pampanga, Oriental Mindoro, Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Zamboanga del Norte, Saranggani and Maguindanao provinces.

Antiporda said that “starting November, the NSWMC will try to approve 100 SWMPs a month until the backlog is cleared.”

“Before, the NSWMC used to approve only 10 or 20 plans a month,” he noted.

The approved SWMPs include strategies on residual, recyclable, biodegradable and special wastes such as the strict implementation of the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy, recycling of single-use plastics, and composting and construction of vault for health care wastes. Municipal ordinances in support of these strategies were also identified.

Since August this year, the NSWMC has been awarding certificates to LGUs whose SWMPs have been approved through resolutions issued by the commission.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the certificates not only signifies compliance by LGUs to the requirement to submit SWMPs, as it also provides as a guarantee for them to adhere with all the provisions of RA 9003.

“This is our way of ensuring the commitment of LGUs to proper solid waste management,” Cimatu said.

“We want to make sure local leaders have a document that serves as a reminder of their duties and responsibilities under the law,” the environment chief added.

Under RA 9003, LGUs are primarily responsible for waste segregation and disposal.

The law provides for a systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management program that includes SWM activities such as avoidance, reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and proper disposal of residual waste. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 08 November 2018

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Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has assured the rehabilitation efforts in Boracay will continue even after tourism-related activities on the world-famous resort island have resumed.

Cimatu said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will conduct continuous water quality monitoring to make sure Boracay’s waters remain safe for swimming and other recreational activities.

The DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (DENR) has installed a state-of-the-art monitoring system that provides real-time data on the water quality around the island, he said.

With an effective monitoring system and strict compliance by all commercial establishments to existing environmental laws and regulations, Cimatu said the public can be assured Boracay will no longer be called a “cesspool.”

According to Cimatu, the DENR will continue to monitor the compliance of establishments with the conditions imposed in their respective environmental compliance certificates (ECCs).

Cimatu said the DENR and other government agencies comprising the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) will also continue to process requirements from non-compliant commercial establishments.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang pagtanggap ng gobyerno ng application for compliance ng mga establishment,” he said.

Compliance requirements for establishments include the setting up of sewage treatment plants (STPs) or connection to the island’s sewerage system, to make sure only treated wastewater is discharged into the sea.

A day before Boracay’s reopening, the EMB reported that certificates of compliance had already been issued to 717 establishments out of 1,258 in its inventory.

A certificate of compliance allows an establishment to undergo assessment by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and then for accreditation by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

As of October 26, the DOT has allowed 157 hotels and similar establishments to operate, which is equivalent to 7,308 rooms.

The DOT also assured the public that the agency would regularly update its list of accredited establishments, as it continues to implement a “no compliance, no operation” policy on the island.

Meanwhile, Cimatu disclosed that the BIATF is set to recommend chairmanship of the body from the DENR to the DOT, as efforts shift from establishing corrective measures to maintaining laws and regulations for ecotourism sites. ###

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Published: 04 November 2018

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The Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has fined 219 business establishments in Boracay a total of P43 million for violation of certain environmental laws.

PAB, a quasi-judicial body charged with adjudicating cases brought by DENR’s regional offices against violators of environmental laws and regulations, slapped the erring establishments with fines ranging from P10,000 to millions of pesos depending on the length of time and gravity of offenses.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu had emphasized continuing vigilance in monitoring of pollution violations and swift adjudication of cases brought before the Board.

DENR Undersecretary Rodolfo Garcia, PAB’s presiding officer, said penalty notices had already been sent to the business owners, who are under obligation to pay the fines.

“We at the DENR believe that anyone who pollutes or destroys the environment must pay the cost for that destruction,” Garcia said.

Garcia said only those who settled the penalties will be allowed to process their permits to operate and discharge permits provided they have not committed other violations.

“The DENR, together with other concerned government agencies, is firm in its resolve to clean not only the waters and air of Boracay and to manage its solid waste. It also wants to clear Boracay of irresponsible and greedy business people who have placed care for the environment their least priority,” Garcia said.

According to Garcia, the rehabilitation efforts will continue even after Boracay has reopened to tourists. “We will continue to monitor all establishments and impose the necessary penalties should they be found breaking laws,” he pointed out.

Of the 209 establishments fined, 110 were found to have violated Section 1, Rule 19 of RA 8749 which requires permit to operate all sources of air pollution from the EMB. Their imposed fines totaled P1.5 million.

Another 72 establishments were fined a total of P2 million for operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants without a valid discharge permit, which is required under Section 27(c) of RA 9275.

Five establishments were fined a sum of P39 million for discharging untreated wastewater and exceedance of effluent standards under the clean water law.

For violating some provisions of both RAs 8749 and 9275, 22 establishments were fined a total of P900,000.

All erring establishments were issued notices of violation by the EMB Region 6 soon after Boracay was closed to tourists in April for a six-month rehabilitation from serious environmental damage.

The PAB is mandated to assess fines and issue cease and desist orders to polluting establishments, and specify compliance with the standards violated. DENR regional offices are responsible for implementing PAB’s orders. ###

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Published: 29 October 2018

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