The
die is cast: the notices are already out.
And
Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala is ready to demolish structures within the 20-meter
salvage zone of the Alona Beach if the resort owners will not voluntarily do so
by the end of the month.
Alcala
said he had the notices sent by registered mail with return card to the owners
of 12 resorts on the famed Alona Beach.
These
resort owners - including two incumbent councilors - have been "a headache",
the mayor lamented.
Their
sheer hardheadedness has caused difficulty for the town's firetruck, garbage truck
and septic tankers in passing through.
He
has negotiated, cajoled, requested, reminded and directed these owners to demolish
these structures, mostly seawalls, but to no avail.
During
a recent meeting of resort owners at the JJ's Seafoods Village in Tagbilaran City
called by Gov. Erico Aumentado, however, Alcala sounded off his predicament to
the body that included foreign nationals who have chosen to reside in Panglao,
The
participants pressed for the removal of the obstructions that prompted Alcala,
as implementor of the law, to issue the notices.
| | | Alcala
also welcomed Aumentado's offer of a bulldozer, if required, for the demolition
of illegal structures set 15 days after the receipt of the notice - or around
the end of this month.
The
public clamor emboldened the mayor to act anew. To note, some resort owners had
filed a mandamus case in an apparent move to pressure him into issuing business
permits. But the mayor was adamant, saying that he had already given his word:
no demolition of illegally constructed structures - no license. |
The cases
have dragged on for around a year now, he said, and have come to the point where
the judge had requested for a status quo on the structures during their pendency.
Alcala
said a temporary restraining order (TRO) would have been better as this expires
after 60 days.
And
the 15-day waiting period starts.
Meanwhile,
Alcala said second- and third lot owners have no choice but go to court to seek
for right of way for access to the beach through private property.
This
issue cropped up during the meeting after resort owners aired the complaints of
some guests that the trek to the beach through the public access is so cumbersome
and circuitous.
Beachfront
owners used to provide access through their property but cut this short after
passersby abused the privilege - stepping out of the path and onto the grass,
loitering around guests' rooms to the latter's surprise and fear in some cases,
and dropping litter.
On
the other hand, local authorities are waiting for another resort's owners now
reportedly in Europe - to call their attention on their no entry policy to the
easement zone in front of their property.
The
easement zone is supposed to be public, and under the law, should be available
for recreational activities, among others. A representative of the resort owner
denied this, but a former neighbor who merely wanted to walk her dog along the
beach pointed out that an armed resort guard denied her entry. She said she was
free to walk her dog in the area until this resort started improving the property
and imposed the no entry policy.
Other
resorts also have guards, but they do not deny entry but merely remind passersby
to stay within the easement zone and not too close to the property.
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