Wednesday, June 25, 2008 City gov't to implement desist order vs Queensland park By Grace L. Plata
THE City Government of Davao will soon issue an order for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help in the implementation of the cease and desist order issued by Davao City in January 2008.
This was agreed upon a meeting of the local government officials and Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) Chief Andrea Domingo at the City Hall Tuesday.
On October 23, 2007, PRA has issued a cease and desist order on the Queensland Motels over its ongoing reclamation of a foreshore area in Matina Aplaya that was done without any permits.
But the order has not been implemented because of an ongoing negotiation between Queensland management and the City Government of Davao.
However, the authorities came to a consensus Tuesday that the ongoing activities of the Queensland management must be put to a stop immediately and that the negotiation between the city and Queensland is over.
City Legal Officer J. Melchor Quitain said Queensland has three violations that have contributed to the decision -- depriving the public of the beachfront; insufficient drainage system and water treatment facility; and the use of sand taken from the sea as filling material for the elevated portion of the property.
"Diretso sa dagat yung tubig galing sa drainage. Di mo alam kung saan nanggaling. The health of the public is at risk. The sand they use as filling is also not a strong foundation and the waves will slowly wash the sand away which is dangerous," Quitain said.
Domingo, on the other hand, said she will be tasking the PRA's legal division to procure an order of forfeiture from the court. The area, which is proclaimed to be within city property, will be returned to the city, while the area beyond the city's claim will be taken over by PRA.
The local government and the PRA also agreed to check on the land titles allegedly proving Queensland's ownership of the area.
"These are just transfer of certificate of titles that they have presented, meaning meron pang nauna sa kanila. We aim to know who were those people who originally staked claim on the area and when this happened because it should not have been so," Quitain said.
"Right now, we are asking the City Council to consolidate the earlier resolutions they have made and also as the PNP to coordinate in the implementation of the order. This time the area will be monitored to make sure they comply," Quitain said.
Domingo and the local officials also went on an ocular inspection in the area and saw a bulldozer doing some work.
"Actually, nasayangan din siya (Domingo). It is a shame because all they (Queensland) had to do was secure a permit before they did all the work. Even if they did some good with the area, their activities were still illegal and that still stands," Quitain said. (GLP)
