‘No violation in issuing building permit,’ despite Boracay closure — Malay LGU

ILOILO CITY — No law or guideline was violated when the Malay municipal government of Aklan issued a building permit two weeks after the closure of Boracay Island.

Rowen Aguirre, executive assistant for Boracay Affairs of Malay, clarified that the issuance of a building permit should not be misconstrued that a company, corporation, or individual could proceed with building works amid the moratorium imposed against any construction at Boracay.

Mayor Ceciron Cawaling, earlier in March this year, issued a memorandum for the moratorium, and building officials were told not to accept any application for locational clearance or building permit during the period of the moratorium on construction.

Aguirre said he was informed that the company applied for a building permit late of 2017. There were others who were also given permit, provided their application was filed before the moratorium.

"It's not only big establishments. There were residential and small businesses that were given permits because they have applied prior to the moratorium," he said.

Apparently, it took a while before their permit was granted due to the processes they have to go through — from securing a locational clearance to inspection if the area is suitable for the proper projects, until endorsement to the Malay Municipal Council, said Aguirre.

The Malay LGU's issuance of a building came into question after a building permit was issued to a hotel development under the name “Boracay Solaire Resort" on May 9, 2018, or two weeks after the island was closed to tourists and visitors.

Aguirre said: "As far as I know, it's a hotel and not a casino," and will be located at sitio Bolabog in Barangay Balabag of Boracay.

Following such report, the Manila-based Solaire Resort clarified that the Boracay development project "is not in any manner, directly or indirectly, connected to or affiliated with Solaire Resort & Casino and Bloomberry Resorts Corporation."

Aguirre said there could be no violation in the issuance of the permit. "If you look at the condition, those who have applied prior to the moratorium will still be considered, as long as they go through the correct process," He said, adding that there could be misconception on the matter, because some people thought that, with the moratorium, no permit should be issued.

However, Aguirre said the issuance would be moot and academic since the company could not do even a slight construction work because of the moratorium. "They could only start with the construction if the moratorium is lifted," he said.

The temporary prohibition on the construction could be lifted once the island will be open to visitors or could be extended if necessary. But while they should refrain from doing any construction work, they could stock pile construction materials like sand and gravel.

"We know how hard it is to transport construction materials to the island. They could just stockpile it, but no construction work of any sort," Aguirre added.