Calamba residents oppose motel's construction

CEBU, Philippines - Raising “moral issue” as reason, residents of Barangay Calamba are opposing the construction of a motel in their area.

In a resolution submitted to the Cebu City Council, Calamba residents led by barangay captain Victor Quijano Jr., said they are opposing to the “strongest term” the construction of a branch of a popular chain of motels along V. Rama Avenue because it is not consistent with the Barangay Council’s plan for the barangay.

“Whereas a motel is the last thing we need for the barangay especially that we are very aware of the moral issue attached for the operation of a motel,” the resolution reads.

The City Council referred the matter to the Committee on Urban Planning as well as the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to determine the technical legalities of the construction.

City Planning and Development Officer (CPDO) Nigel Paul Villarete said he was also given a copy of the barangay’s letter for his reply being the chairman of the Zoning Board. He said the project was already issued a locational clearance by the CPDO because of an attached Barangay Clearance.

“But if there will be valid reasons for us to revoke the locational clearance, we will. However, they have to provide a valid reason and citing ill-repute of that kind of business and the fear of other illegal and immoral activities is not a valid reason,” Villarete said.

He said the fact that the enacted zoning ordinance allowed motels in certain zones means that they are not bad, illegal or immoral per se. “So if they don’t want motels in their areas, they should petition for a change in land use and zoning ordinance,” he added.

According to Villarete, the Supreme Court had already issued two rulings on whether residents and local government can oppose motel construction, citing the moral issues behind the business.

The most popular one he said was in the City of Manila when Mayor Alfredo Lim banned motels being the “nest of illicit affairs,” which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Villarete quoted the SC Resolution saying that motel patrons who are single and unmarried may invoke this right to autonomy to consummate their bonds in intimate sexual conduct within the motel’s premises be it stressed that their consensual sexual behavior does not contravene any fundamental state policy as contained in the Constitution.

According to the SC Resolution adults have the right to choose to forge such relationships with others in the confines of their own private lives and still retain their dignity as free persons. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB (THE FREEMAN)