Skirting the law

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The cases in the City of Bacolod involving the projects of a certain corporation that has puzzled both residents and businessmen are certainly matters that could be called as “one for the books”.

There is this businessman with his company that has suddenly sprouted several establishments, for which construction have started without the benefit of permits and other requirements. So far, as the media discovered, there are already three such projects, all probably involving millions of pesos, that have been built, or are in the proceeds of construction, without first complying with the requirements of national law.

This all came into public focus when three kagawads of Barangay Alangilan in the city called official attention to the ongoing construction in their barangay of an alleged resort, which had been without the endorsement of the barangay. Later, it was also revealed by a former barangay official of Punta Taytay, also in Bacolod, that another project, also a resort, was being constructed and, in fact, has already been completed, also without complying with the required permits and other legal requirements.

Recently, the same official disclosed to the media that the “resort” had, in fact already held an alleged dry-run, and is, in fact believed to already be operating, albeit clandestinely.

After all the uproar over these violations, the City Building Official made some half-hearted moves to supposedly require compliance from the owners of these illegally constructed establishments, but, surprisingly, the supposed investigation of the Punta Taytay project, only led to the discovery that some others in the area had also operated without the proper documents.

It was clear, of course, that the other establishments were “penny ante” ones compared to the new one.

The biggest puzzle is, how come the city administration, particularly its executive department, continues to be perceived as keeping a blind eye and a deaf ear to all the hullabaloo over these projects. Most cannot help wondering what privileges can be enjoyed by prospective so-called “investors” that enable then to skirt the law in Bacolod City.*