MEMBER properties of the Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) said they are compliant with all the regulatory policies of government, including those concerning the environment.
“We follow what is required. Even so, we do more initiatives to protect our environment,” said HRRAC president Carlo Suarez.
President Rodrigo Duterte recently called out Boracay and Panglao for environmental violations and threatened to shut them down.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said that local government officials and resort owners caught violating environmental, sanitation, and pollution laws will be apprehended.
Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Director Shalimar Tamano believes resorts in Cebu have been compliant with the regulations.
In fact, Tamano said owners and representatives of accommodation establishments have conveyed their commitment to protect the coastal resource on which their operations depend during the Hilutungan Channel Forum held last year.
According to Tamano, the coastal waters of Cebu, particularly along the Hilutungan Channel, where there is large concentration of resorts, have long been under the watchful eye of concerned tourism stakeholders and regulatory agencies.
“With this, we have reason to believe that our resorts in Cebu are faring well, and we would like to keep it that way by enjoining the rest of the stakeholders to be compliant and to continue to be vigilant and take care of our marine environment—the bread-and-butter of the tourism industry in Cebu and in Central Visayas,” said Tamano.
Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Officer Hembler Mendoza said the City Government and different agencies work hand in hand to make sure resorts and hotels within the coastline of Lapu-Lapu City are complying with different laws geared to protect the environment.
“Tourism plays a vital role in the economy of Lapu-Lapu City. It is, therefore, empirical that tourism stakeholders have complied with environmental requirements,” said Mendoza.
In a separate interview, Rommel Gonzales, president of Panglao Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he supports the government’s crackdown on erring tourism establishments that don’t comply with environmental laws.
“If the establishment is not compliant, definitely, they must be sanctioned. But, they should be given an ultimatum and last chance to comply,” said Gonzales, who is also the general manager of Bellevue Resort in Panglao, Bohol.
A report said there are at least 200 commercial establishments operating in Panglao but only 33 establishments have permits from the Environmental Management Bureau.
Earlier, six resort properties in Panglao and Mactan were awarded the Asean Green Hotel Award in Thailand.
The award is in recognition of the hotel industry players whose operations are based on the achievement of sustainable tourism through environment-friendly principles and practices.