By Calvin D. Cordova
Cebu City – The lack of wastewater discharge permits is the most common violation the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR) found during the inspections of resorts and hotels in Mactan Island, Cebu.
Marco Andrew Silveron, supervising specialist of the regional Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), said notices of violation have been sent to the erring establishments.
"I cannot give the exact number of establishments but we discovered the violations during physical inspections. They were given 45 days to implement corrective measures," said Silveron.
Violators will be fined from P10,000 to P200,000 and even face closure, he said.
DENR conducted the inspections after some establishments in Boracay Island in Aklan were found to be discharging their sewage into the sea.
Silveron clarified that the situation in Mactan is not as serious as that in Boracay.
Representatives of the concerned establishments attended technical conferences to address the issue, he said.
Aside from Mactan, resorts and hotels in Moalboal and Oslob in southern Cebu, Bantayan, Malapascua and Camotes Island in northern Cebu are also being inspected.
Silveron also said EMB will lead the observance of World Water Day on March 22.
Activities lined up are clean-up drives along water bodies and an adopt-an-estero for private groups.