West Cove Seeks Win-Win Solution with the Local Government
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, Aklan- The management of West Cove Resort is currently seeking a win-win solution with the Malay municipal government as its ongoing demolition is still far from completion.
The Malay government enforced a demolition against portion of the resort in Barangay Yapak, Boracay upon the order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In a press conference Tuesday, West Cove lawyers Atty. Axel Gonzales and Atty. Florante Roxas admitted of being helpless with the ongoing action of the government.
"What we will do is to file administrative and criminal cases in the Ombudsman while we are confident in winning our claims. We deemed that the demolition is illegal because the DENR has no court order in enforcing the operation," said both lawyers.
For his part, Crisostomo Aquino, in an eight-page, statement said that he is willing to donate the view deck for the municipal government as part of its win-win solution. The said view deck, which is one of the favorite places being visited by tourists while in this resort island, is also part of the areas to be demolished.
"The town complains that they lack funds in enforcing the demolition. What we really want is to wait for the approval of the cadastral survey of the DENR and there we will have a basis of where and what area to be demolished. If the DENR would just approve its own cadastral survey then we will be the one to spend money for the demolition of the excess areas," said Aquino, president of West Cove.
The manual demolition started July 19, but the local government could not finish the demolition process due to lack of funds.
The DENR ordered the demolition on parcels of the Boracay West Cove because it allegedly violated some national laws. The West Cove lawyers claimed the DENR did not investigate.
"On the issue of no permit, we have been processing our requirements at the local government from the start, but the local government did not act on it," Aquino further
The Malay government enforced a demolition against portion of the resort in Barangay Yapak, Boracay upon the order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In a press conference Tuesday, West Cove lawyers Atty. Axel Gonzales and Atty. Florante Roxas admitted of being helpless with the ongoing action of the government.
"What we will do is to file administrative and criminal cases in the Ombudsman while we are confident in winning our claims. We deemed that the demolition is illegal because the DENR has no court order in enforcing the operation," said both lawyers.
For his part, Crisostomo Aquino, in an eight-page, statement said that he is willing to donate the view deck for the municipal government as part of its win-win solution. The said view deck, which is one of the favorite places being visited by tourists while in this resort island, is also part of the areas to be demolished.
"The town complains that they lack funds in enforcing the demolition. What we really want is to wait for the approval of the cadastral survey of the DENR and there we will have a basis of where and what area to be demolished. If the DENR would just approve its own cadastral survey then we will be the one to spend money for the demolition of the excess areas," said Aquino, president of West Cove.
The manual demolition started July 19, but the local government could not finish the demolition process due to lack of funds.
The DENR ordered the demolition on parcels of the Boracay West Cove because it allegedly violated some national laws. The West Cove lawyers claimed the DENR did not investigate.
"On the issue of no permit, we have been processing our requirements at the local government from the start, but the local government did not act on it," Aquino further