Boracay: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has strengthened environmental oversight on Boracay Island and tightened its rules on the processing and issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) and Certificates of Non-Coverage (CNC). In a news release Wednesday, the DENR said the agency has ordered a stricter review of all development projects, through Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2025-36, to safeguard the island's ecological limits, in line with its continuing rehabilitation and sustainable management.
According to Philippines News Agency, the order mandates that all projects within Boracay Island be evaluated in consideration of the island's physical and ecological limits to ensure sustainability. The primary objective of this Administrative Order is to provide guidelines on evaluating the carrying capacity and geological hazards on Boracay Island in the review and processing of ECC and CNC applications.
The guidelines apply to all existing projects, expansion projects, and new developments on the island that fall within the purview of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System. It also includes new and existing structures that qualify for the issuance of a CNC. Applicants are required to submit various documents such as an EIS or Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Checklist, land-use compatibility certification from the local government, proof of land authority, easement compliance documents, and geohazard reports endorsed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
New projects must also obtain carrying capacity endorsements from the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB). The DENR emphasized that only projects aligned with Boracay's approved land use and zoning framework will be eligible for environmental clearance. Smaller undertakings not covered by the EIS System, like residential houses, small businesses, places of worship, and minor public infrastructure, must secure a CNC.
The order specifies that all CNC applications will be processed manually at the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region VI to allow on-site validation. It also imposes strict environmental conditions including mandatory wastewater treatment, compliance with national water quality standards, proper solid waste management in coordination with the Malay local government, and adherence to island traffic policies.
The DENR asserts that this measure ensures future development on Boracay proceeds under tighter environmental controls while preserving the gains from the island's rehabilitation in 2018.
