Dumaluan resort expansion spurs more controversies

A resort expansion project owned by Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan has generated even more controversy following allegations that it has committed more violations. It will be recalled that the three-storey structure had come under fire after it was alleged to have been constructed without the required environmental compliance certificate (ECC), barangay clearance and the approval of the Panglao Island Tourism Estate Review Committee. While the resort had obtained a building permit, there is no record that the municipal engineer required the management to submit an architectural plan.

The resort management tried to justify the construction by presenting an ECC which turned out to be bogus after it was found out to have been issued actually to the restaurant and the dive shop which were both constructed within the 20-meter salvage zone. The demolition of the dive shop had earlier been thought of as a voluntary compliance to the Water Code of the Philippines which prohibits the construction of structures within the 20-meter salvage zone. It turned out that Dumaluan simply had a bigger project in mind. As it turned out, the demolition actually set the stage for the expansion of the three-storey structure to reach all the way to where the former dive shop was located which was now right within the salvage zone.

The project, initially estimated to be worth P20-million, has also been accused of being undervalued after it was declared to be only worth P5-million to avoid paying the proper building fees. While the complaint against the existing violations had remained unacted, the expansion that further enmeshed the project into more irregularities has made the government look helpless. Reports however indicated that the violations regarding constructions within the 20-meter salvage zone may finally be acted upon.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has indicated it will act on the complaints raised against the illegal structures. If the DENR acts on it, this will restore credibility into the agency which had appeared helpless in the face of the repeated violations. This continued even as Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself had ordered a strict implementation of the law prohibiting constructions within the 20-meter salvage zone. Dumaluan has not only steadfastly refused to admit the violations but in fact has flaunted his power.

The latest expansion work shows he has no intention of backing down and in fact has actually upped the ante by daring the government to do something about his latest intrusion into the 20-meter salvage zone with a major project that reportedly costs “only” P5-M.

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