Pacquiao pal hit over resort on Boracay coral reefs By Nestor P . Burgos Jr . Inquirer VisayasFirst Posted 16 : 34 : 00 10 / 13 / 2009 Filed Under : Environmental Issues , TourismILOILO CITY , Philippines — Boracay stakeholders have called for an immediate stop to construction activities over coral reefs and no - build zone areas on the island by a resort owned by a businessman reported to be close to boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Environment Secretary Jose " Lito " Atienza Jr . In a joint statement , business groups Boracay Foundation Inc . ( BFI ) and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industries ( BCCI ) , deplored the construction activities of the Boracay West Cove Resort at Sitio Diniwid in the village of Yapac , Malay town . " We express our anger and frustration about the ongoing illegal and destructive construction activities of the West Cove resort at the Diniwid Beach on Boracay Island . The construction activities on the coral reefs and cliff are causing irreversible harm to Boracay ' s already damaged natural resources , " the business groups said in the statement . The photos of construction activities showed coral reefs already wrapped in concrete with a hut being built over them . A concrete bridge connects the coral reefs to the resort . The resort , owned by Manila - based businessman Crisostomo " Cris " Aquino , earlier drew criticisms from owners of resorts and other stakeholders in Boracay for alleged violations including the building of structures on a cliff and over coral reefs . Aquino is a close friend of Pacquiao , who is a protégé of Atienza . " We are alarmed because these environmentally destructive activities have been going on for too long despite our protests , " BFI President Loubelle Cann told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview on Tuesday . Cann said that these activities " are putting to waste all our efforts and resources to rehabilitate and save Boracay ' s environment . " In an interview on Tuesday , Aquino said the structures they were building were just temporary so that the guests could reach the hut from the resort even during low tide . The owners of resorts in Boracay questioned Atienza in August on the inability of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( DENR ) to stop the alleged violations . They asked why the resort continued to operate even without permits from the local government and the DENR , and in violation of a municipal ordinance barring the construction of structures on no - build - zone areas . Atienza said the resort was legalizing its operations by entering into a Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes ( FLAgT ) , which would allow the continued operation of West Cove . A FlagT , under DENR Administrative Order 2004 - 59 , allows the temporary use , occupation and development of any forest land for tourism purposes for a period of 25 years and renewable for the same period . The agreement covers forest lands to be used for bathing , camp sites , eco - tourism destinations , hotel sites and other tourism purposes . Aquino , in an earlier interview , revealed his resort ’ s pending application for FlagT covering 10 , 586 square meters . Atienza ordered the processing of the application after it was filed on March 9 , Aquino said . The resort developer explained that they applied for business and other permits but he could not be issued these permits until they could secure a FLAgT . The resort has been operating without business and other permits since 2007 , according to municipal officials . " We cannot understand why the management of the resort is allowed to undertake these illegal and environmentally destructive activities . . For the past two years , it appears that they are enjoying too much immunity and can do anything they like even without a single permit , " the business groups said in their statement . Atienza has repeatedly said that his agency would crack down on violators of environmental laws on the island . The community in Sitio Diniwid has been undertaking a signature campaign against the construction activities . Atienza : Why pick on resort on coral reef ? By Alcuin PapaPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01 : 11 : 00 10 / 18 / 2009 Filed Under : Tourism , Environmental IssuesMANILA , Philippines -- Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza has asked groups in Boracay not to discriminate against a resort that was partly built on top of a coral reef on the island , saying other resorts there were as guilty of trashing the environment . Asked to comment on reports that West Cove , a resort owned by a businessman said to be close to boxer Manny Pacquiao , had built a structure on top of a coral reef in Boracay , Atienza said West Cove wasn ’ t the only one that should be investigated . “ Let ’ s not focus on one resort . Let ’ s address concerns on all the resorts , ” said Atienza , who was also reported to be close to the owner of West Cove , businessman Crisostomo Aquino . “ There is too much anarchy ( in Boracay ) . The environmental situation there is chaotic , perpetrated by the local government units , ” said Atienza . He said the DENR would verify if , indeed , West Cove had built structures on a coral reef in Boracay . Pictures of construction in the resort showed a hut rising on top of a coral reef that had been cemented on its sides . Aquino , the West Cove owner , had said in an interview with the Inquirer Visayas Bureau that his resort has a pending application for a FlagT , a document that would allow him to occupy and develop forest land for tourism purposes for 25 years . According to the businessman , his other applications for business and other permits are on hold until he has secured a FlagT , which would have to come from Atienza ’ s office . Municipal officials in Boracay said West Cove has been operating without permits since 2007 . Atienza said the DENR wants to “ check if ( what they say about the construction of West Cove ) is correct . ” “ But what about the others ( resorts ) ? ” he said . He said many resorts near Boracay ’ s white sand beach were also violating environmental laws . “ Let ’ s address the problem as a whole and not discriminate , ” he said . The DENR , according to the secretary , is currently conducting a survey in Boracay prior to giving out titles to lots that have already been occupied there . “ There is already a process ongoing , ” said Atienza . He said he ordered a freeze on the payment of taxes on lots , as many lot occupants use tax declarations to lay claim to pieces of property in Boracay . Last year , the Supreme Court upheld Malacanang ’ s declaration that land in Boracay is public property and that private landowners cannot get titles to their lots without a law from Congress . Business groups in the island sought an immediate halt to the construction of West Cove , saying it was “ illegal and destructive . ” Atienza has repeatedly said the DENR would crack down on violations of environmental laws in Boracay . Boracay Foundation , Inc . 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