Hotel construction legal — mayor

PANGLAO, BOHOL — Mayor Leonila Montero had clarified reports of irregularity by saying that “there is nothing wrong” with the construction of the 12-story hotel building along Alona Beach at Barangay Danao in Panglao town, and that legal requirements have been complied with.

Montero issued the statement that such construction is in order, contrary to news report, during the monthly executivelegislative meeting held in Belian Hotel in Tagbilaran City last week.

The construction of the multi-million resort project is also a concern and also a challenge, said the mayor, considering that hotels and resorts here are still lacking due to the expected rise in tourist arrivals, more so after the completion of the Panglao International Airport next year.

Montero told the media a building permit was already issued, by municipal building official Rogelio Bonao, to the contractor for the construction of the hotel building.

Lawyer Louie John Lood, Roy Lachica and Danilo Mante — officials of Dataland Inc. that is undertaking the construction of the Ivywall Hotel — attended the said meeting.

Lood said they are aware of the zoning ordinance, and complying with it accordingly. On the questioned height of the building, he said they were able to secure a go-signal from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to proceed with the construction, without violating any laws and regulations.

The building will comply with the height limit, based on CAAP’s regulation, he said, as he also showed the Panglao officials a copy of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued last year by the DENR-7 last year.