No net café in city’s Condominium

CEBU, Philippines - The caretaker of the Cebu City Hillyland Dormitory on N. Bacalso Avenue claimed that there is no need for him to secure a business permit for the 12 computers that he operates at the city condominium as these are not intended for business.

“We do not have an internet cafe inside the dormitory.  What we have is a computer room which is part of the facility of the building for the students so they wouldn’t have to stay out late to do research,” said Sudlon 2 Barangay Captain Dante Tabucal.

Tabucal was appointed by Mayor Michael Rama as the dormitory’s caretaker after the City Council approved that the five-story building that was acquired from a foreign loan in 1994 will be converted into a dormitory for students from the mountain barangays.

Each student is required to pay only P350 as lodging fee every month which includes electricity and water charges.

The City Treasurer’s Office personnel inspected the building last March 6 after Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña received reports about the illegal operation of an internet cafe inside the dormitory.

Tabucal in his letter to Osmeña said the use of the computers is not operated as a business of a private entity but rather as part of the amenities of the condominium.

Tabucal also said there is no need to enter into a memorandum of agreement or a contract of lease because he is not renting the room where the computers are being installed.

The students are asked to pay a minimal amount to sustain the operation of the computer room.

Osmeña observed that the dormitory’s water consumption last year cost P1.116 million while electricity consumption was P894,681.

Tabucal explained that he implemented cost cutting measures by limiting the use of water and electricity between 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

He said the constant increase in power rates is among the reasons that their electric and water bills are going up.

Tabucal admitted that even with the minimal lodging fee,  some students still failed to pay their obligation.  (FREEMAN)