By Calvin Cordova
CEBU CITY — Panglao Island, one of the top tourist destinations in Bohol, could be closed to the public because it has not fully enforced the coastal easement requirement and failed to improve water treatment facilities.
Charlie Fabre, head of the Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said Panglao could be the subject of a massive environmental clean-up, similar to what happened in Boracay Island in Aklan, to prevent further contamination of the island's seas.
Fabre said the quality of seawater in Panglao continues to fluctuate, from below 100 most probable number (MPN) per fecal coliform contamination to 500 MPN or 600 MPN.
The standard MPN was set at 100 MPN. If the level falls below 100 MPN, it means the waters are safe enough for bathing.
When it comes to coastal easement, only 18 out of the 87 establishments that jut out to the sea have been demolished.
Authorities in Panglao were given until last May to implement measures to improve the situation in the island.
Fabre said the DENR Central Office will decide what to do now that the deadline had lapsed.
“DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu has always been asking for updates on the status in Panglao island. We have been sending monthly reports to the regional office in Cebu City, which in turn sends our report to the Central Office,” Fabre said.