The under-construction beachfront hotel owned by Dataland Inc. which was designed to be a 12-story structure in Brgy. Danao, Panglao can only go up to as high as six floors due to local easement regulations, said the town’s Municipal Engineering Office amid the longstanding controversy on the building’s height.
According to Panglao municipal engineer Rogelio Bunao, legal measures will be taken to direct Dataland into limiting the structure’s height to just six stories while a work stoppage order will be issued if the firm refuses to comply.
Bunao who inspected the site along with other authorities from the town’s engineering office on Tuesday said that the structure is being constructed within the 100-meter beach zone which is implemented through the Panglao Island Tourism Estate (PITE) guidelines.
The beach zone is a 100-meter span right after the 20-meter salvage zone beside the seawater, said Bunao.
During the inspection, authorities found out that the Dataland structure is located 65.2 meters from the salvage zone wherein buildings can only have a maximum of six stories.
“Kung gawas o lapas na sa 100 ka metros gikan sa 20 meter salvage zone ang istraktura, pwede siya nga magtukod ug hangtud 12 ka andana,” said Bunao.
Prior to the inspection, Panglao’s Sangguniang Bayan through the recommendation of Councilor Rogelin Degoma ordered the investigation into the continued construction of the 12-story structure.
Degoma also earlier alleged that Dataland failed to submit its project proposal to the PITE.
The firm’s legal counsel however said that the village of Danao is outside the PITE’s coverage based on a presidential proclamation signed by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines had given clearance for Dataland’s construction of the 12-story hotel building. (A. Doydora)