Cabinet Sec. Leoncio Evasco Jr. on Monday urged Panglao officials to implement measures promoting environmental protection in the resort town to avoid having it end up like Boracay in terms of sanitation amid the continued uptrend in local tourist influx.

Evasco who was the keynote speaker during Panglao’s Hudyaka Festival on Monday particularly pointed out the need for safeguards such as proper wastewater management against hazards to the town’s seawaters and their ecosystem.

According to Evasco, Panglao needs to have its own wastewater treatment facility to ensure that used water from resorts and hotels is safe to the environment once it is pumped out back to sea.

The Cabinet secretary who was once a Bohol mayor warned Panglao’s local government unit to avoid letting the town end up like Boracay which lacks proper wastewater management measures.

“Ang Boracay sa mga naka-adto, puno na kaayo, sik-sik na kaayo, ang mga tao didto maglisod na ug agi. Ika-duha ang water treatment wala sila, halos mo-putok na ang tubig gikan sa ilang mga hugaw anha sa mga balas,” said Evasco.

Panglao is better than Boracay in terms of cleanliness but efforts are needed to maintain the status, he added.

Evasco urged officials to focus on maintaining proper sanitation and to establish the treatment facility before cleanliness issues adversely affect the town’s tourism industry.

“Protektahi ninyo ang inyong nakab-ot karon. It is a challenge to the part of the local government. It is a challenge of the people of Panglao,” said Evasco. (A. Doydora)