INLAND resorts and similar establishments in Marilog, Davao City that do not have proper permits may possibly be subject to demolition but only after thorough discussion and investigation, said City Council Committee Chair on Tourism Al Ryan Alejandre.
During the I-speak press conference, Alejandre said he plans to pass a resolution next week that would create Task Force (TF) Marilog. The objective of the group will hear the sides of all parties involved in the issue. This is after the Business Bureau discovered about 27 inland resorts operating in Marilog without securing a business permit. On top of that, since these areas at Marilog are ancestral domains, a clearance from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NICP) is needed as well. These 27 establishments have yet to issue such.
Alejandre said because they do not have business permits, it follows that they also do not pay the proper taxes.
This concern, according to him, had already been raised to him by the City Treasurer’s Office. His help had been sought in order to solve this problem.
As per report, only Seagull Mountain Resort and Hill 88 Highway are the inland resorts located in Marilog that are compliant of the necessary permits and the tax payments.
“We will create the TF Marilog to help these other establishments but they should also be willing to cooperate with us,” said Alejandre.
Similar to what happened to the resorts in Boracay, Alejandre said it might be possible that if these establishments do not comply with what’s asked of them, their establishments would be demolished.
“As per talking with the Business Bureau, they said these establishments are actually willing to comply. However, the issue is that it’s been since 2012 since we first talked. And the issue has not been resolved,” he said.
“Right now we cannot move yet without the official result of the investigation. The TF will be given mandate to go there and inspect and basing on the result of their inspection, the committee on tourism and other committees will come up with a joint inquiry regarding the issue,” he added.
In 2012, Alejandre lobbied and gained Council approval over the amendment of the City Land Use Plan (Clup) particularly in declaring certain areas in Marilog to be Tourism Development Zone (TDZ) instead of it being entirely forestland area.
According to Alejandre, construction of any business establishment in forestland area is illegal. Businesses on the TDZ should still have business permits and NCIP clearances. It being establishment on the TDZ is not enough, he clarified.
He said as these establishments do not have permits, it was difficult to track them down. They do not have records in the Business Bureau and the Department of Tourism. Instead, they were tracked down manually through Tripadvisor, Google, and other social media sites. (JPA)