Tuesday, February 05, 2008 Queensland controversy drags other beach resorts By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE controversy over the expansion project of the Queensland Motel in Matina Aplaya has now dragged the other resort owners in the area after it was discovered that former President Ramon Magsaysay proclaimed the whole stretch of the Matina Aplaya beachfront a reservation area back in 1954.
The proclamation signed on May 3, 1954, states that the area is a public land reserved for recreational facilities and that no individual could own a lot in the area.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said if this is the case, then how come resort owners like Adarna of Queensland and family of former vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan were able to acquire titles for their resorts. Unless they acquired their titles before the 1954 proclamation, they are still entitled to it.
The Queensland management has been in hot water recently for implementing expansion project at the baywalk area without the required permits from concerned government agencies.
Earlier, the mayor suggested for Queensland to secure necessary permits with an offer for the City Government to help.
The mayor also ordered Queensland to take heed of the order of Vice Mayor Sara Duterte who ordered the motel management to immediately stop their beach works.
