The local government unit (LGU) of Panglao will start to demolish buildings built within the town’s 20-meter “no-build” zone in August, five months after violators of the easement policy were told to rid the municipality’s coastline of illegal structures.
According to Mayor Pedro Fuertes, the LGU will first demolish seawalls, ripraps and staircases along the shore of the Alona Beach, which is among the province’s top tourist draws for its wide stretch of white sand.
The buildings erected within the 20-metrer easement zone will be demolished after.
However, Fuertes noted that for now, they are still awaiting for resort owners and operators to voluntarily dismantle structures which have been deemed illegal by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
He also said that only Alona Beach remained without establishments which voluntarily complied with the easement policy, noting that resorts in other areas in the town have started to demolish illegal structures.
In March, DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu inspected the Alona coastline himself and ordered violators of the easement policy to clear the area of illegal structures giving them six months to comply with the order.
A total of 87 resorts were listed by the DENR as among violators of the 20-meter easement rule based on a list issued by the agency.
Some resort owners and operators in Panglao, however, argued that structures that are now deemed illegal were once out of the easement zone but beach erosion has caused seawater to move closer to their establishments. (AD)