Bohol Provincial Legal Officer Fails to Enforce Demolition Orders, Impacting Communities and Tourism
Structures on Barangay Road and Easement Zone Remain Despite Ombudsman, DILG & Panglao Mayor Orders
Bohol, Philippines - October 07, 2024 - On February 15, 2006, PLO Handel Lagunay reported a violation involving a “three-story building at Dumaluan Beach Resort, Panglao, which was constructed without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)”. Doloreich Dumaluan, the owner of the resort (now renamed Marilou Resort), was the Mayor of Panglao at the time. Despite identifying the issue, Lagunay did not pursue demolition, and today, the resort has expanded to five stories and an additional four-story building.
On August 27, 2019, then-Acting Panglao Mayor Briccio Velasco issued a memorandum urging “the demolition of structures encroaching the 20-meter easement zone along Panglao's coastline”. Despite this directive, Dumaluan Beach Resort remained standing, while Hera Greek Taverna in Alona Beach was forcefully demolished on August 8, 2019, and other businesses voluntarily demolished since then.
In 2023, Panglao Mayor Arcay issued Office Memo No. 2023-0829 ordering to clear the obstruction on Bolod Sapa White Beach Road, a barangay road located in Barangay Bolod, Panglao, Bohol, a road critical for public access to the beach. According to court transcripts from the Bohol Regional Trial Court (RTC) Civil Case No. 10341, the court confirmed that the contested structures are outside legally owned plots, granting the right to demolish them. As per Section 481(b)(2) of the Local Government Code, it is Lagunay’s responsibility to develop and implement the necessary legal plans and strategies in coordination with the Mayor. Despite the court order and PLO Lagunay’s legal duties, Villa Umi Panglao Resort reports that he has not implemented these plans, preventing Mayor Edgardo Arcay from proceeding with the demolition of the illegal structures.
Villa Umi Panglao Resort also reports that Dumaluan Beach Resort has been unlawfully charging fees for access to the beach through the barangay road—an area that should be freely accessible to the public. As a result, local residents trying to reach their homes and workplaces, as well as both domestic and international tourists attempting to access the beach, are facing significant difficulties. This has also discouraged potential entrepreneurs from establishing new businesses in the area, further impacting the local economy. As the United Nations define poverty as not only a lack of income but also a lack of choices and opportunities, these developments exacerbate the region’s challenges.
Villa Umi Panglao Resort’s owner has called on DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, who recently announced his Senate run, to demonstrate his commitment to the people of Bohol by addressing these violations. "Secretary Abalos can either ensure that PLO Lagunay fulfills his duties or instruct the Governor of Bohol to remove Lagunay and appoint a more effective PLO. Additionally, Director Ferdinand Q. San Joaquin from the Office of the Ombudsman has the authority to bypass the Governor and impose a preventive suspension on PLO Lagunay pending investigation. Senator Nancy Binay who chairs the legislature’s tourism committee and member of House of Representatives Erwin Tulfo are also invited to have a close look at this situation." the resort owner stated.
The failure to protect public access and preserve Panglao’s natural beauty underscores the urgent need for officials at the local and national levels to prioritize the welfare of both residents and tourists.
About Villa Umi Panglao ResortVilla Umi Panglao Resort is a premier destination in Panglao, Bohol, offering guests pristine beachfront accommodations and world-class service. The resort is committed to sustainable tourism and preserving Bohol’s natural beauty.
https://villaumipanglaoresort.com/
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