Penalties pushed against non-compliant Baguio businesses

BAGUIO CITY – Local tourism industry stakeholders said compliant businesses should not be made to suffer consequences of violations of non-compliant establishments because they were adhering to prescribed standards of their operations monitored by concerned government agencies and the local government.

Anthony de Leon, president of the 250-member Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio and manager of the Baguio Country Club said businessmen should be made to understand they should conform with prescribed standards of their operations.

 He said it was unfortunate that violations of different business establishments on environmental preservation and protection were the ones being highlighted in a bid of some sectors to have Baguio City undergo the desired rehabilitation which negates the endeavor of a good number of responsible businesses in complying with environmental laws.

The HRAB official claimed it will be the local tourism industry that will suffer the backlash of the desired rehabilitation of the city due to the blatant violations of some erring businessmen who refuse to adhere to the prescribed standards of their operations that is why concerned government agencies and the local government must start working on imposing the appropriate penalties to those that are found to continue violating environmental laws, rules and regulations to help in improving the city’s state of the environment.

According to him, the city’s private sector continues to be vibrant and bullish on the robust growth of the local tourism industry but there is a need for responsible businessmen to make sure that their business operations adhere to the prescribed standards of their operations and lessen the unabated dumping of waste to the environment.

He urged concerned government agencies and the local government to strengthen inter-agency monitoring activities on non-compliant business establishments so that their operations will be temporarily closed pending their compliance to existing laws. -- Dexter A. See