Friday, June 20, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte – At least 52 beach resorts in this town, which has been acclaimed by an Australian magazine as the top best beach in Asia, are operating illegally due to the absence of foreshore permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, according to an environment officer.
Juan de los Reyes, Ilocos Norte provincial environment and natural resources officer (Penro) said they discovered the problem recently after conducting an inventory on the proper management and utilization of foreshore areas in the province.
De los Reyes said they are worried on the unwarranted use of foreshore areas because it is threatening Ilocos Norte’s coastal resources particularly the increasing number of illegal structures and the various development activities near the shoreline which include the construction of more beach resorts and houses.
He said that due to the discovery, the DENR has given beach resorts owners an ultimatum and required them to secure within 15 days from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office their foreshore permits and avoid encroachment on the shoreline.
“It was only this year that we really have to enforce the law. They had been operating for many years and it’s high time for them to pay the amount they are supposed to pay for the government,” De los Reyes said.
De los Reyes said the use of foreshore areas needs to be regulated before water, coastal pollution and other health-related problems get worse. He hinted that even the Commission on Audit is also monitoring the illegal operation of resorts particularly owners who use foreshore areas for livelihood.
Apart from the 52 illegal foreshore occupants in Pagudpud, De los Reyes reported that even big resorts like Fort Ilocandia Resort, the Casino in Laoag City and the Nipa beach in Currimao, Ilocos Norte have yet to apply for foreshore license at the DENR office.
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