A CEASE and desist order will be issued by the City Government of Silay on August 10 against 36 resorts, establishments and lodging houses in Patag, Lantawan and Guimbala-on after notices of violations were issued against their owners and operators.
The area lies within the protected area of the North Negros Natural Park.
Silay City Mayor Mark Golez said Friday, August 7, that the owners/operators of these establishments have never paid for any permits and taxes to the local government of Silay and the national government since they started their operation.
Some of the resorts that have been drawing several local and foreign tourists started in 2004 while others from 2016 to 2018, Golez pointed out.
These resorts and establishments have been temporarily closed due to the effect of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Golez said the resort and establishment owners constructed the structures without the building permit, occupancy permit, discharge permit, business permit and that they also do not pay any taxes to the national government or the Republic of the Philippines so they cannot issue an official receipt for their respective customers.
"They are tourist attractions but they have violations and if we tolerate them this will set a bad precedent to other businesses. Notice of violations were served and the City Government has given them 10 days to answer," Golez said.
The mayor said most of the operators and owners have not registered any resistance to the action taken by the City Government and in fact most of them wanted their operation to be legal and are asking guidance on how they would be able to do it.
"We have that apprehension that if we don't regulate them now, the area could be the next Boracay as their waste discharge and garbage disposal would not be regulated," Golez said.
Golez also revealed that since the area is under the protected area of NNNP, he referred the matter to the Protected Area Management Board (Pamb) to appropriately act on the matter and for the issuance of the necessary permit.
Golez, who also chairs the Patag, Guimbala-on Management and Development Authority, which he created through an Executive Order, met with its members Friday, August 7, to set guidelines and policies related to existing problem in the area.
Aside from the 36 establishments and resorts, the Silay City Government operates an 11-hectare Silay Outdoor Recreational and Ecological Tourism Area in Barangay Patag where an extension of the city hall and DRRMO office are being constructed now.