By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu is hoping to replicate the rehabilitation efforts in Boracay and Manila Bay to promote the protection and preservation of tourist destinations in the country. DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu
(DENR / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Cimatu visited Puerto Galera last week to ensure that the famous tourist destination is being managed properly. "What we did and are doing in Boracay and Manila Bay, we will replicate in Puerto Galera," he pointed out. The DENR chief checked on the construction of a P100-million modern sewerage treatment plant (STP) in Barangay Sabang during his visit to Puerto Galera. He also visited Barangay San Isidro as a prospective site of a second STP. The STP in Barangay Sabang aims to treat 1,750 cubic meters of wastewater per day and is already in commissioning stage. It is expected to be fully operational this month. Cimatu expressed his gratitude to Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan for facilitating the construction of the treatment plant to address the urgent issues of water pollution. In the past years, water quality in Sabang Bay, has shown high levels of coliform. The poor water quality was attributed to the growing number of commercial establishments along the island’s easement zone that discharges partially treated wastewater into the bay, and the inadequate wastewater treatment facilities in the island. Cimatu ordered DENR-Mimaropa Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado to establish a DENR local office in Puerto Galera to make the necessary protection and preservation of its beaches. Cimatu also instructed Adornado to facilitate the transfer of the regional office from Roxas Boulevard in Manila to Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10879 that makes the city the regional center for Mimaropa. "It will never be easy. But I can already see the strengthened collaboration between the DENR regional task force and the local government unit in saving Puerto Galera," Cimatu said. Task Force Puerto Galera was created in February 2018 to spearhead the cleanup of the island and ensure strict implementation of environmental laws including RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004) and Presidential Decree No. 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines).