From the Bohol ChronicleThe experience of a superb dining and the excellent accommodation at the high-end
Alona Palm Beach Resort and Restaurant will come to an end when the resort closes on Tuesday, after eight years of service to both local and foreign guests.
In a press statement issued to the Chronicle yesterday, resort management said the decision to close is "due principally to health reasons" of the owners.
The announced closure of the resort was met with strong objection from the 70-man working force who started to stage a strike at the beach area.
Ramil Rollena, assistant head waiter and spokesman of the group said the workers will insist for their security of tenure and the proceeds from the service charge.
However, he assured that the last remaining guests at the resort will not in any way be disturbed by the striking employees.
For the management, Angie Brunner, the owner assured the workers that their rights to self-organization will be respected.
She likewise assured that their final pay and separation pay in accordance with law will all be granted.
"Mrs. Brunner and husband Marcel who is now 65 years old, after medical consultations for the past several years, have been finally advised by their respective doctors-specialists, to stop and refrain from engaging in stressful work activities which would aggravate their health conditions," the press statement said.
Mrs. Brunner likewise said "with regrets that she was left with no choice but to close the operations of the resort effective June 1, 2010. She took into account not only herself, but more importantly, the welfare of her husband and their nine-year old daughter Nicole."
Alona Palm with its 14 well appointed villas earned the reputation as a boutique resort with "personalized service" of the couple Brunner ever since it started in 2002.
Marcel who is an architect by profession built the resort out of his "love and appreciation of Panglao as an ideal tourist destination".
Water rates hike retroactive 2006
Water rate increase which is retroactive to October 2006 will take effect in the next month's billing, according to Engr. Conrado Melissimo, consumer services supervisor of the
Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. (BWUI).
The increase ranges from 36 to 70 percent depending on the volume of one's monthly water consumption.
The increase will be implemented on a staggered basis in order not to burden the consumers, Mellisimo said. The increase will be payable in 18 months.
This is the first rate adjustment after the takeover of the joint venture agreement of the provincial government and Salcon.
The bulk of about 70 percent of BWUI's concessionaires consume between 21 to 30 cubic meters where the increase will be P4.97/cubic meter (from P8.78 to P13.75) or an increase of 56.6%.
The water rate adjustments vary: P21.20/cubic meter for those consuming up to 10 cubic meters (P58.80 to P80); P3.15/cubic meter for 11-20 cubic meter consumption (P7.60 to P10.75) and P12.63/cubic meter for those consuming 31 and above cubic meters (P17.87 to P30.50).
The implementation of the water rate increase came following the lifting by the Court of Appeals of the preliminary injunction filed by the city government.
The Court of Appeals, in its decision contained in CA-G.R. CEB-SP No. 02520 dated Jan 5, 2010 reportedly declared the local RTC with no jurisdiction on the case filed by the city government.
In reaction to the CA decision, RTC Judge Suceso Arcamo of Branch 47 automatically lifted the preliminary injunction issued by the Court. In his order dated March 16, 2010, RTC, Branch 47 held that the preliminary injunction issued by the court was "null, void and annulled for lack of jurisdiction". The order further admitted it was "powerless to insist on a status quo and has no authority to restrain and enjoin" BWUI from implementing the approved NWRB rate increase.
Reacting on this, lawyer Victor de la Serna categorically said there was no need for the RTC to issue the order since the CA already made the decision.
"It was just a face-saving move of Judge Suceso Arcamo," de la Serna said during a phone interview yesterday.
Reacting to this, RTC Branch 47 Judge Arcamo said that the order lifting the preliminary injunction on the water rate increase was based on the CA decision. He ordered the lifting of the injunction despite a motion for reconsideration on the CA decision filed by the petitioner, City of Tagbilaran.
It was learned that a motion for reconsideration was filed by the petitioner on the CA decision to lift the preliminary injunction.
CA decision ordering the lifting of the preliminary injunction also took cognizance that the petition of the city government to block the implementation of the water rate increase was filed beyond the required period for filing an objection.
NO BOND?
De la Serna raised the query on why there was no bond required by the RTC to answer for whatever damages that would arise from the case.
Asked to comment on this, Judge Arcamo admitted that he did not require the filing of a bond since the petitioner was a government entity.
Arcamo said the imposition of a bond is left to the discretion of the judge.
However, de la Serna stressed that if the RTC could have required the city government to put up a bond, it could have saved the water consumers from burden of paying the water rate increase since the bond will answer for whatever damages that would arise from the case.
De la Serna commented that the court is "beholden by the city mayor who represented the city government as petitioner."
LOWEST IN REGION 7
Despite the increase, the new rates are still among one of the lowest in the entire country especially in Region 7 with operations management having similar scheme like that of a water district.
According to Local Waterworks Utility Administration (LWUA) as of Jan. 1, 2010, the average water rates of the reported 481 water districts nationwide for residential consumers was P21.28.
The new Bohol Water rate is 13.75. Even before the approval of the new water
rates by the National Water Resources Board on September 20, 2006, comparative rates showed BWUI's rates for residential consumers was 9.87 less than the average rates of 459 water districts;
The new water rates was approved by the NWRB in its 47th meeting on September 20, 2006 per NWRB Resolution No. 008-0906;
Meanwhile, BWUI assures the consuming public of continuous sufficient supply of safe and potable water while on the process of developing new water sources.
Aumentado admitted that the last election was the "most hard-fought and even painful" in the span of his political career.
"For us, the victory was sweet but I also commiserate with all the candidates who fell by the wayside. This, notwithstanding, I know that the statesman in us motivates us to set aside the personal issues and start the preparation for the work at hand to sustain Bohol's progress and development," Aumentado added.
In congratulating his successor, Aumentado told Chatto that he is "thankful that Bohol is never short of talented and competent leaders to man the helm of the province".
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