- Title: Hotels struggle to meet regulations in time for Boracay island opening
- Date: 25th October 2018
- Summary: BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES (OCTOBER 25, 2018) (REUTERS) BOAT DOCKED AT BEACH/DEMOLISHED HOTEL STRUCTURE SIGN READING (English): "DANGER. DEMOLITION SITE. DO NOT ENTER" DEMOLISHED HOTEL RUBBLE BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES (OCTOBER 24, 2018) (REUTERS) RICKSHAWS PASSING BY MARIO RESIDENTIAL INN MARIO RESIDENTIAL INN OWNER ELMA VERGARA INSPECTIN
- Embargoed: 8th November 2018 11:09
- Keywords: Boracay major cleanup reopening of island tourists tourism beach front hotels environment
- Location: BORACAY, AKLAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES
- City: BORACAY, AKLAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Pollution,Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA00193KBJNP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Only about a quarter of the more than 400 hotels on the Philippines' Boracay will be opening along with the island itself on Friday (October 26), according to the country's tourism ministry, after a six-month rehabilitation effort.
The government has so far accredited around 115 hotels and inns who have secured the necessary permits and shown themselves to be following environmental laws on construction and sewage systems.
On Thursday (October 25), rubble, excavators and partially-knocked down buildings lined some seaside roads. Hotels who have not been accredited are faced with either demolishing their own illegal structures, such as those within 30 metres of the water's edge according to a local law, or risk staying closed for good.
Some hotel owners complained about a waiver they are being told to sign before opening, which they say will effectively surrender their rights to their property. "It's like suicide for me because it's like my land will no longer be mine," said Boracay resident Elma Vergara, who owns the 14-room Mario Residential Inn built 15 metres from the road.
Veraga says she only opened her hotel a month before the island's closure and has all the necessary permits to reopen. If she doesn't sign the form, she says, she risks her property being demolished in the future due to its proximity to the road.
Environment Ministry Undersecretary Benny Antiporda told reporters on Thursday that the government had always owned Boracay land and insisted the waiver was not a case of land grabbing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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