Cimatu’s challenge to Bohol leaders & 
stakeholders: think about Panglao’s future 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Mar. 20 (PIA)--Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu on Monday challenged the local leaders and stakeholders of Bohol to think about Panglao’s future. 

The DENR chief attended the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC) Board Meeting presided by Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto held at Bohol Tropics Resort, this city. 

“What will happen to Panglao 30 years from now? This is the problem in Boracay Island. It was overdeveloped,” Cimatu said. 

The secretary also said what happened to Boracay should not happen again. And he didn’t want Panglao to suffer the same fate as Boracay. 

However, the secretary cited the serious effort of the Boholano stakeholders in coordination with the appropriate agencies like the DENR in correcting the mistakes. 

Cimatu said he is “positive of tourism in Bohol to prosper.” 

During the PITEC meeting, Cimatu was updated on Panglao Island’s proposed waste water treatment facility, the water quality in the coastal waters and issues on the easement within the environmental protection zone. 

He was also briefed on the policy action and initiatives to address the different environmental concerns of Panglao Island, considered as the crown jewel of Bohol’s tourism. 

Panglao island consists of the towns of Panglao and Dauis. 

Panglao Mayor Pedro Fuertes, Dauis Mayor Miriam Sumaylo and Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II were also present during the meeting. 

Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director William Cuñado bared during the meeting that there are a total of 87 violators of easement area most of them are found in the barangays of Tawala, Danao, Doljo, Libaong and some barangays in Dauis. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol) 

Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto (L-4th) briefed DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu (L-5th)on the policy action and initiatives to address the different environmental concerns of Panglao Island during the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC) Board Meeting held at Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City on March 19, 2018. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)