By Tara Yap ILOILO CITY—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) started its probe to trace where the sewage pipe found along the beach front of Boracay Island originated. (Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) “We are looking at where the pipe originated. We couldn’t penetrate the area yesterday because there were too many pieces of debris,” said Atty. Richard Favila, DENR chief for Boracay. With the help of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) workers, DENR unearthed Tuesday a sewage pipe along the Station 2 beach front and just outside a posh resort, after receiving a tip from local residents. Favila told Manila Bulletin the pipe most likely was dumping untreated wastewater to the white beach, where tourists would usually swim when the resort island was still open. The discharged water was foamy and had a foul smell. The DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) took samples to find out if the water at the front beach was within safety standards. With Tuesday’s discovery, DENR Regional Director Jim Sampulna wants the entire stretch of Boracay’s white beach checked. “I’m assuming there are six or more illegal sewage pipes there,” Sampulna told Manila Bulletin. Sampulna accordingly surmised that the polluted water being dumped at the front beach was one of the reasons for the algal bloom, the resurgence of massive algae. Last week, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu released the initial list of hotels, resorts and resorts that were illegally dumping wastewater to the resort island’s drainage system. The illegal connection to the drainage system meant that the water dumped at the Bolabog Beach, Boracay’s back beach, was contaminated. Earlier data from EMB indicated that Bolabog’s water had a high level of coliform bacteria. Ideally, Boracay establishments are supposed to connect to the sewage systems of Boracay Tubi System Inc. or Boracay Island Water Company. These two companies are the ones that are supposed to treat the wastewater.