Baywalk hearing set March 22

THE Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Good Government of Bacolod City headed by Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito had scheduled the Public Hearing regarding the issues surrounding the operation of Bacolod Baywalk at the reclamation area on March 22, 2013.

The issues that will be tackled in the hearing will be the the illegal transfer of ownership of the property that is supposed to be owned by the city, including the roadlots and the apron of the port, the illegal operation of Bacolod Baywalk without the corresponding business permit, the non-issuance of the Environmental Compliance Certificate, and the alleged illegal collection of toll fees from vehicles and individuals who go inside the establishment.

“The hearing will clear the gray areas surrounding these issues,” Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito said.

City Government offices such as the City Legal Office, City Assessor's Office, Office Of Building Officials, ENRO, City Engineers Office and the Permits and Licensing Division will be invited in the hearing as resource persons, same also with the CENRO and the DENR-EMB offices.

Representatives from other concerned parties will also be invited, like the Almana Property Development Corporation which operates the Bacolod Baywalk, Bredco, Aldritz Corporation, the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Barangays 10, 12, 13 and 14.