DAVAO City Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre will pass a resolution that will create an inter-agency task force to inspect around 27 illegal structures and resorts being built in Marilog District area.
This developed after some of these structures and resorts reportedly do not have business permits and are located in the danger zones.
Alejandre, during the I-Speak media forum Thursday, March 15, at Davao City Hall Conference Room, said there are a lot inland resorts in the area but there are only two establishments with business permits – Seagull Mountain Resort and Hill 88 Highway.
“There are many resorts that were built in dangerous zone. The area has now increasing tourism arrival. We also heard that there is a subdivision being opened within 2.3 hectares property wherein lots are sold for P2,500 monthly, payable for five years,” he said.
“This is very alarming because these did not pass through the City Council and they do not have preliminary approval and locational clearance,” he said.
All applications for housing, subdivisions and other developments usually go through the council for an approval.
Alejandre said he first saw the subdivision plan in a social media post and was able to confirm such activity through a direct phone call.
The councilor said he found it fitting for a task force to conduct an investigation on the area.
“Marilog is one of a kind destination that we have, that could be likened with Baguio. If we will just allow establishments to be built there without proper planning, we may put the lives of our tourists at risk,” Alejandre said.
He added the Business Bureau has conducted an inspection in the area last year and when they did so, some owners have asked for requirements on how to avail business permits but the establishments were already there.
Alejandre said outright demolition of structures is one of the consequences of lack of business permit.
He advised the resort owners to ask and coordinate with the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) to know the application process for a business permit.
He said in 2012, he lobbied and gained Council approval to amend the City Land Use Plan declaring some areas in Marilog as Tourism Development Zone (TDZ) under the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Clup) as the area was originally categorized as purely forestland wherein no developments are allowed.
He thought that it is a huge leap but later found that most of the resorts had difficulty securing permits due to the fact that the City Planning and Development Office will not accept their application without certification from the National Commission on Indigenous People considering that the entire Marilog District is declared as an ancestral domain.
He will let the Task Force decide on what to do with the structures and advised the resort owners to apply for and avail the allowable use of land.
Based on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, eco-tourism, agri-tourism, beach resort, mountain resort, theme parks, other related activities such as tree parks and botanical gardens, heritage and historical sites are among the allowable uses and activities in Tourism Development Code.
It is also a common regulation for general zones and all subzones to secure preliminary approval for locational clearance (PALC) and Development Permit for: commercial residential and industrial subdivision; malls, commercial centers, and shopping centers; memorial parks, cemeteries; town houses and apartment; hotels and motels; warehouses; residential and commercial condominiums.
Alejandre, along with his resolution to come up with the “Task Force-Marilog,” said he is hopeful that the investigation team will determine the proper agency or authority that allowed the construction and hence conduct a joint committee inquiry on the issue.
“Right now we cannot still move without and official result of the investigation. The task force will be given mandate to go there and inspect and based on the result of their inspection, the committee on tourism and other committees will come up with a joint inquiry regarding the issue,” he said.
Alejandre said that he intends to pass the resolution next week.