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Panglao Island Environmental Problems

By Romy Teruel

One environmental and tourism issue that will keep on cropping up unless decisive actions are done is the issue of easement along beaches as prescribed by the Water Code of the Philippines.  This has cropped up before and now it is here again.   

The conference that Gov. Erico B. Aumentado held with the hotel and resort owners of Panglao and Dauis last Friday is an example of laws wanting in implementation. While the laws are clear and guidelines are prescribed, willing compliance has remained a problem. 

The Water Code of the Philippines prescribes a 20-meter easement from the high water mark on the beach towards inland where no permanent structure can be constructed whatsoever.  We need not send experts however to know that compliance is more in the breach than observance. 

This prompts observers to ask "What happened to Bohol's thrust on eco-tourism and environmental conservation and protection?"  And this is usually followed by "They are killing the goose that lays the golden egg." 

Indeed yes. Why cant developers not follow the provisions of law?  Bohol's thrust is sustainable tourism.  If the way we see things are done will continue, Bohol's tourism can be a sunset even before it can see sunrise. 

It's better to suffer pain now by setting things straight while things can still be corrected than later when nothing can be done anymore. 

Last Friday's conference with the hotel and resort owners of Panglao should be the last of the sort if we want to bring Bohol to global competitiveness.  Consultations if any would be to find better ways to develop Panglao not to look for solutions to problems.  Resort owners who have violated the easement guidelines and height of buildings should voluntarily comply by demolishing structures and clearing easement spaces. 

Municipal Local Government Units too, in this case Dauis and Panglao, should be firm in the enforcement of the laws and guidelines.  The guidelines are there for a purpose and that purpose is noble and redeeming for the island's generations to come. 

Mayor Benedicto Alcala of Panglao promised to send letters to the violators to "self-correct" or he would send his own demolition crew after 15 days if there is no compliance.  Now that is firm.  Let's see if it can be supported with action. 

But why was Mayor Lulu Bongcalos of Dauis conspicuously absent from the conference? 

On the issue of the public using the beaches fronting the resorts, we understand why the resort owners do not want to give in.  After all they are the ones maintaining the cleanliness of these beaches and would at times assign lifeguards to protect their guests.  But again the law is clear on this.  No one owns the beach and the waters but the State. 

In many popular destinations where beautiful beaches are their attractions, the beaches are open to the public even those in front of hotels and resorts.  The beaches in Phuket, Thailand are open to the public.  The local governments are the ones maintaining the cleanliness of the beaches.  The same is true with Bali in Indonesia. 

Locals in Panglao Island are complaining that because of tourism, they are now deprived of enjoying what used to be free to all to enjoy.  This should not have happened at all if local government units have put in place an ideal land use plan that would have delineated public beaches and access to them.   

MLGUs can also undertake the cleanliness of the beaches so they could be accessible to the public.  But his should be properly integrated in local laws and ordinances for the guidance of investors and developers. 

The Panglao Island Development Guidelines the revision of which was already approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force has made development friendly to both investors and the residents of Panglao Island but the MLGUs are very slow in adopting them. 

Unless there is one coordinated efforts to support the development of Panglao Island as a sustainable tourism destination, there may be a need to consider other sites in the province that are as endowed and beautiful like the Anda Peninsula. 

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