By JOEY NACALABAN
with NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents .
CAPITOL records show that Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort is standing on a commercial property, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano revealed on Tuesday. Before being classified as “commercial,” it was “agricultural.”
Emano had the records checked by provincial assessor Marilyn Legaspi who then found out that the property on which the theme park was built was classified “commercial.”
He sent to this paper a copy of Legaspi’s handwritten note to his chief-of-staff Jonafe Rodas that reads: “The classification is commercial as reflected on the face of the tax declaration.”
The capitol said Seven Seas was built on three lots in Barra, Opol in Misamis Oriental with a total area of 47,293 square meters.
In the note, Legaspi stated that the three lots, marked as “011,” “012,” and “013” were reclassified by the Opol town council through an ordinance.
The reclassification was for tax purposes, Emano told the Gold Star Daily.
The tax effectivity took effect in 2016, according to Legaspi.
Asked yesterday about the property’s classification before 2016, Legaspi said it was “agricultural.”
Yesterday, Emano questioned the DENR’s moves and threats of a closure order against the theme park, saying the Department should instead focus on going after establishments in the region that have been violating environmental rules instead of working to close down what has become a major tourism attraction in northern Mindanao.
“Di ba kaha nangataranta na kining taga DENR tungod sa nahitabo sa Boracay? Pero before unta na nila gihimo, gihunahuna nila pila ka mga tawo mawad-an og trabaho,” Emano said.
He said the DENR could jeopardize potential tourismelated investments in the province because of its moves against Seven Seas.
“Aduna ra bay tulo pa ka mga dagkong resort ang matukod sa probinsya. Kini himoon sa Laguindingan, Initao, ug Gitagum,” Emano said.
Engr. Elpidio Paras, Seven Seas owner, has maintained that the Barra property was properly titled and that the theme park was developed after he secured an environmental compliance certificate from the DENR in 2014.
“Nganong karon pa man ang DENR nag issue ana nga nakatukod nami diha? Unfair ug unjust na sa mga investors. Nakagasto nami’g daku ug nakautang pa sa bangko,” Paras said.
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