Floating Taal Lake Resto Demolished

          

                         Permanent structures are prohibited in Taal Lake.  The Department of Environment and 
                  Natural  Resources, in cooperation with the Batangas Provincial Government’s  Task Force
                  Taal Lake, led the  demolition of the  Korean Jung Ang Resort in  Talisay, Batangas.  
                  The illegal structures like the bridge and pier  (upper right)  restaurant (upper left), were 
                  demolished despite the appeal from the lawyers of the restaurant (lower left).  Also 
                 demolished was the illegal reclaimed land beside the structure (lower right). The 
                 demolition was witnessd by Provincial Administrator Victor Reyes, CENRO Odi Salac,
                  Agham Partylist Cong. Angelo  Palmones, DENR USec. Dem Ignacio, Talisay Mayor 
                  Zeny  Mendoza, Laguna 1^st District Cong. Dan Fernandez and Task Force Operations Chief
                 Venus de Castro.  (Photo by Capitol PIO)

TALISAY, Batangas — The demolition of the  controversial multi-million Korean “Floating” Restaurant Jung Ang Leisure and Resort started on Wednesday after the establishment was ordered closed by the concerned authorities last June 28 as it was declared an illegal structure within the vicinity of the world-famous Taal Volcano and Lake.

   The restaurant violated Rule 21 ng RA 7586 or NIPAS Act at DENR Administrative Order 2008-26 that prohibits the construction of permanent structure on the Taal lake and the RA 9003 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act at NIPAS Act rule 21.9 for it’s lack of a disposal management facility, and RA 9275 or Clean Water Act 0f 2004 for lack of proper discharge permit.

According to Senior Inspector Domingo Ballesteros Jr., Talisay police chief,  the demolition was done peacefully and orderly “with no tension whatsoever.”

   About 100 cops from the Talisay Municipal Police Station and Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A secured the area as more than 50 workers from the engineering office, some with sledgehammers and one with a jackhammer, broke the pathway.  The demolition team also  dismantled the structure’s silver-plated silver rails and cleared the white two-story building which was reportedly worth P5 million.

   The demolition started at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday as local officials led by Mayor Zenaida Mendoza watched.

   Also present to witness  the demolition were  Provincial Administrator Victor Reyes, CENRO Odi Salac,  Agham Party-List Rep. Angelo Palmones, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR) USec. Dem Ignacio, Talisay Mayor Zeny Mendoza, Laguna 1^st District Cong. Dan Fernandez,  and Task Force Operations Chief Venus de Castro, Bureau of Agrarian Reform (BFAR), some other government agency officials and Kim Young,  owner of Jung Ang Leisure and Resort which operated the restaurant.

   The 500-square meter land where the restaurant building was occupying was an “extension” of the 6,920 square-meter resort which has been operating for the last five years. The restaurant is not actually floating but only seemed that way since it was situated on the lake side.

     Illegally constructed on the Taal Lake, Jung Ang Restaurant in  Barangay Buco, 
Talisay, Batangas, was demolished on July 4.

   The restaurant, which is reportedly under a 10-year contract, is the favorite hangout of Koreans visiting Taal Volcano and lake

   Officials said the restaurant was an illegal structure as it had neither title nor permit to operate and had violated Rule 21 of Republic Act 7586 (Nipas Act) and DAO No. 2008-26.

   Talisay Municipal Administrator Alfredo O. Ordinario said the demolition was made after the DENR, through the office of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape, issued the the cease and desist order and the closure notice last June 28.

   But despite the order, Jun Ang still didn’t cease it’s operation, prompting the government offices to demolish the illegal structures on July 4

   The demolition was made even as Kim Young, who according to Ordinario is a widow of Jung Ang, appealed to save the building.

   Both police chief and Ordinario said they would be vigilant and ensure that the illegal restaurant would no longer operate.

   Ordinario said that this should be an example to all that the concerned agencies are against the illegal structure in Taal Lake

   The demolition was done after the dismantling of illegal fishpens and other “eyesores” in the lake

   Ordinario said some 16 other illegal structures near the Taal Lake will be next

   Taal Volcano is the world’s smallest volcano within a lake which is declared as a protected area under the NIPAS act, and  considered as one of the wonders of Nature. (Mei Magsino with report from Capitol PIO)