The municipal government of Mahinog in Camiguin province suspended the operations of a luxury resort on Tuesday, March 3, after regulators discovered several environmental violations on the discharge of wastewater and construction beyond approved limits.

The municipal government ordered the suspension of four business permits issued to the resort – Camiguin Noveau Resort & Villas – “to protect public health, marine resources, and the ecological integrity of Gingoog Bay.”

“Accordingly, and until full compliance with all the above-stated conditions is duly established and verified by the proper authorities, the company is hereby directed to immediately cease and desist from engaging in any and all business operations,” said the order signed by Mahinog Mayor Rey Lawrence K. Tan.

The municipal government instructed the resort owned by a businessman to secure valid permits to discharge wastewater and operate generator sets from the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) as well as other compliance documents required by the agency.

The EMB is a line bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources implementing national environmental laws such as the environmental impact statement system, clean air act, clean water act, and ecological solid waste management, among others.

The municipal government also instructed the resort to present written certifications from the regulator showing the company complied with the conditions set in its environmental clearance certificate (ECC). Otherwise, the resort should “secure a new or amended ECC and submit to the municipal government.”

The municipal government cited findings of the EMB Region 10 that the resort was building up to 150 rooms, way beyond the 54 rooms approved in its initial environmental examination of its ECC.

The resort should likewise be able to “demonstrate to the municipal government that its Wastewater Treatment Facility is fully operational and capable of sustained operation.”

The EMB found out that the resort violated prevailing water quality standards when it was discovered the wastewater being discharged by the facility contained fecal coliform levels beyond guidelines.

“Excessive coliform levels can lead to the closure of these waters for human use and can severely impact the livelihoods of local fisherfolk,” the municipal government said.

Last month, the EMB-Region 10 slapped notices of violations against the resort for the abovementioned violations.

Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo expressed disappointment over the findings, noting that the project was among the province’s first large-scale resort developments.

“We are very disappointed by these findings. From the very beginning, we made it clear that opening Camiguin to larger-scale tourism would require strict compliance with environmental laws and standards,” Romualdo said.

“Camiguin is small, fragile, and highly dependent on its natural environment. Our responsibility is to ensure that development strengthens our island while protecting what makes it unique,” he said.

Romualdo said the case underscored the delicate balance between economic development and environmental protection in a province known for its limited land area and sensitive ecosystems.

“The real challenge is balance,” he said. “We want investors to succeed, but success must be sustainable. Development that harms the environment is not development- it is a short-term gain that creates long-term damage.”