THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution requesting the Office of the Building Official, City Planning and Development Office, City Engineering Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), Permits and Licensing Division, and the City Legal Office (CLO) to look into the operation of businesses along the shoreline of Sitio Aning, Barangay Pahanocoy and Puok Mabinuligon, and Barangay Sum-ag.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, was approved during the regular session of the City Council on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
Lopez, chairperson of the City Council committee on environment, said business entities, Taculod Enterprises Inc. and Taculod Fort Rental Property of which businesses are owned and operated by Engineer Andre Taculod, are allegedly operating as property leasing business for restaurants and venues in Sitio Aning, Barangay Pahanocoy and Purok Mabinuligon, Barangay Sum-ag.
“Business entities in the area have been operating without the necessary business licenses which will supposedly ensure the protection of our environment from improper waste disposal and protect the hygiene and sanitation of the public,” he said.
On May 25, CLO has issued a cease and desist order to Taculod on their operations or business activities along the areas of Purok Mabinuligon II, Barangay Sum-ag and Purok Punta Balas, Barangay Pahanocoy.
Initial facts gathered by CLO from Barangay Sum-ag chieftain Rodney Carmona said Taculod’s activities in the areas involved the cutting of mangroves of about two to three hectares and the building of a wharf or mini-port.
The CLO will further evaluate the said activities under the provisions of City Ordinance No.318, Series of 2002 or the Quarrying Code of Bacolod City, Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines, and the Republic Act 7161 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.
Lopez said he also received letters from Carmona and Barangay Pahanocoy chieftain Yolanda Noble requesting assistance in regard to their complaints in the operation or establishment of developments in said areas.
Upon verification of his staff, he said they found out that there was an ongoing construction project being undertaken by Taculod Enterprises Inc. and Taculod Fort Rental Property.
“Upon furnishing a copy of a letter to Taculod to stop from continuing his business activities or operations whatsoever pending the results of the committee’s examination of the facts on the matter, the former verbally agreed with me to accede and comply with the request,” he added.
Lopez said during their joint inspection on Monday with the Cenro-Bago, Environment and Management Bureau with the barangay officials, they found out that the beach resort project did not have the necessary permits.