Two barangay kagawads of Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod City, are asking the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation regarding the on-going construction of a resort in the barangay.

They said the construction is being done despite the fact that the Barangay Council has denied the request of the proponent for a favorable endorsement of the project in apparent disregard of the authority of the barangay officials.

Bacolod Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, yesterday said he will schedule a committee hearing on the matter.

The resort being referred to is the Metro Safari Resort in Purok 12-A, Alangilan.

In their letter to the SP dated Nov. 18, Kagawads Donard Alimpolo and Alex Sausi said a certain Francis Cabuga requested for an endorsement from the barangay to put up a resort in an agricultural land registered in the name of Melody and Nelson Guadalupe.

They said that, on the basis of their request, the barangay sought the opinion of the Department of Agriculture that said that the conversion of agricultural land without its approval is irregular. So they denied the request of Cabuga, they said.

The kagawads, however, said they were surprised and felt insulted when they received from the proponent an invitation to a groundbreaking on Sept. 13 despite the denial of their request by the barangay officials.

“Worse, we observed that there is now an ongoing delivery of construction materials and putting up of bunker houses at the site,” they said.

The kagawads inquired from the SP if the proponent can start with the construction without their endorsement on social acceptability, a building permit from the Office of the Building Official, Environmental Compliance Certificate, conversion order from the DAR, and resolution of endorsement by the City Council.

Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, chairman of the SP Committee on Tourism, said he believes there is some misunderstanding and that he wants to look into it, as development and tourism should be encouraged.

Lopez said he was informed that Cabuga has filed a case for the cancellation of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award. It is only the Secretary of the Office of the DAR who can cancel the CLOA, he said.

Lopez also said he believes they should help people who want to help develop Bacolod.*CGS

back to top