Resort in Boracay operates sans permit, environmental clearance
A posh resort owned by a close friend of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was allowed to built and operate in Boracay even without any permits from the local government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, amid repeated calls to regulate development projects on the island.
The Boracay West Cove, owned by businessman Crisostomo "Cris" Aquino, was built at least early last year and has started receiving guests including Pacquiao and his American coach Freddie Roach.
The resort hugs a cliff and sits on rock formation at Diniwid Beach in Barangay Yapak, an isolated area at the northern tip of the 1,000-hectare island. It is not visible from the tourists and residents at the white beach whose main entry point is at the Cagban port at the opposite end of the island.
It has 10 villas with room rates ranging from P4,500 to P10,500 per night during the low season and P6,600 to P14,000 per night during the peak season, according to its website (www.boracaywestcove.com).
But the resort does not have a building permit, occupancy permit and business permit, according to Malay municipal councilor Rowen Aguirre, who chairs the committee on rules and regulations.
The resort also violates a municipal ordinance because it is located in a no-build-zone area.
Aguirre said the municipal council had passed a resolution to stop the construction and operation of the resort even before he was elected councilor in May last year.
"That is the question. Why was the resort allowed to be constructed and operate without any permit?" said Deputy National Security Adviser Virtus Gil, who took over as secretary of the Boracay Eminent Persons Group (EPG) in January this year.
Gil who went to the resort two weeks ago along with DENR instructed the resort operator to explain their alleged violations.
The News Today tried to reach Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling on why he was unable to stop the construction of the resort. But Cawaling's mobile phone was turned off and he was also not at his residence in Boracay.
Aquino, a mainstay and perennial flag-bearer in Pacquiao fights, said they are in the process of securing all permits from the local government of Malay, where Boracay is located, and the DENR.
He claimed that he was unaware that the permits were not secured by a former business partner he identified as Nelson Go, whom he had entrusted to process the papers.
"We only recently got full control of the resort. Naipit kami," Aquino said in a telephone interview. He said they have also explained the situation to Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, a close friend and supporter of Pacquiao.
Aquino said the resort has not formally opened yet and has only accommodated his friends and associates as guests.
Resort owners said it is "a public secret" on the island that Pacquiao is co-owner of Boracay West Cove.
But Aquino denied this, saying Pacquiao and Roach only stayed at the resort for a week in December after the boxing champion returned to the country following his win over Marco Antonio Barrera.
"Manny fell in love with the place and wants to lease a lot beside the resort for a fish sanctuary," said Aquino.
He said the boxing champion wants to return to the island after his March 15 match against World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico. "He wants to bring the championship belt to Boracay."
The Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR regional office said the resort is exempted from securing an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) as required by Presidential Decree No. 1586, a law establishing an Environmental Impact Statement System.
DENR-EMB Regional Director Bienvenido Lipayon said they are however monitoring the resort's compliance with environmental laws on pollution including its disposal of solid waste.
The resort is not connected to the central sewerage system because of its location.
Aquino said they have installed a septic tank and waste treatment system on the resort.
Ordinances require resort owners to connect to the sewerage system because of the danger of contamination of the island's coastal and ground water from seepage coming from septic tanks.