KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) --- Persons caught carting off Boracay Island’s powdery white sand will be imposed stricter penalties with the recent amendment of a Malay, Aklan ordinance banning extraction and collection of white sand and pebbles from the country’s premier holiday destination’s beach.
The Malay Sangguniang Bayan implemented amendments in Municipal Ordinance 310 recently run in a local newspaper with an aim to stop the blatant extraction of white sand from the island.
“Boracay Island, a masterpiece of nature endowed by the Almighty with powdery white sand, is being gradually dissipated by man’s selfish interests without due regard to consequences,” the ordinance stated.
The imposition of stricter penalties provided in the ordinance was also anchored on the provision of the Constitution to protect and advance the people’s right to a balanced and healthy ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature and on the Local Government Code’s mandate for the protection of the environment and the imposition of appropriate penalties for acts endangering the environment.
With said amendments in place, first offenders caught extracting Boracay Island’s white sand will be fined P2,500 or imprisoned for a month or not more than three month, or both, at the court’s discretion.
For subsequent offenses, the ordinance imposes imprisonment of not less than three months or not more than six months.
The amended ordinance also said juridical persons, hotels, resorts, or business establishments violating the ordinance will be fined P2,500, imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months or both, to be imposed on the establishment’s president, manager, administrator, owner or proprietor.
If warranted, the offending establishments’ business permit may also be revoked.
Aside from the imposition of said stricter penalties, the offenders will also have to return to the beach the white sand and pebbles they extracted and collected.source: mb.com.ph
