By Marisol Bo-oc | 07:28 PM March 12, 2021
The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Visayas confirmed on Friday that the controversial Amanzara Resort in Panglao Island is not a DOT- accredited entity.
In a letter to Gov. Art Yap, DOT regional director Shahlimar Hofer Tamano added that Amanzara has no application online.
The statement comes after Panglao Mayor Leonila Montero allowed Amanzara Resort to hold its foam party and fashion show this weekend.
Yap said based on the amended Omnibus Guidelines issued by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, only hotels or accommodation establishments with valid DOT Accreditations shall be allowed to accommodate guests and clients for legitimate purposes under a state of public health emergency.
The operations of such hotels and accommodation establishments, as well as ancillary establishments within their premises such as restaurants, cafes, gyms, spas, function halls, and the like shall be subject to guidelines issued by the DOT and the IATF.
“Upon verification, AMANZARA RESORT has not been issued an Accreditation from the DOT. Thus, by virtue of the authority vested upon me as the Governor of the Province of Bohol and the Chairman of the Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Diseases, pursuant to Section 29 in relation to Sec. 465 fla) of RA.7160, DILG Memorandum Circular Nos. 2020-062 Section 5.1.9) and 2020.023 (Section 5.2.3.1.5) , you are hereby enjoined to order the said Resort to Cease and Desist from conducting the Foam Party Fashion Show immediately upon receipt hereof to avoid the recurrence of reported violations of the mininum health and safety protocols for the prevention of the spread of the dreaded coronavirus disease, ” Yap said.
Last Wednesday, Yap called Montero to stop a resort from holding another foam party scheduled tonight.
Yap said he asked Montero to issue a cease and desist order against the management of Amanzara to suspend its scheduled foam parties on March 12 and 13.
Yap said he also ordered the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) to take appropriate action with regard to the previous holding of a Foam Party event which was uploaded on social media.
After the controversial foam party, Amanzara Resort announced for another foam party and fashion show on March 12 and 13, 2021 with defunct Viva Hot Babe member Gwen Garci.
The management said it would enforce the “no face mask, no entry” and only those who have reservations can attend.
The resort was under investigation over a party in its premises where guests have reportedly violated some of the province’s health and safety protocols.
Photos and videos of the foam party were circulated in the social media where people were caught partying without face masks and face shields and disregarding physical distancing.
It became more controversial after a guest was topless during the foam party.
Bishop Abet Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran condemned the foam party.
In his homily on Wednesday, Bishop said doing a foam party with topless women as entertainers is wrong because women are treated as objects, no longer as subjects or as fellow human beings.
“Ang maong malaw-ay nga buhat ug pasundayag usa ka pagtamastamas sa Diyos nga maoy nagbuhatbsa tawo ug naghatag kaniya og talagsaong dignidad.
Bishop Uy called local leaders to stop indecent parties.
“Gipahimuslan nato ang ilang kapobrehon, ang ilang kawad-on, ug ang ilang kahuyang.
And to do such thing during a time when we are celebrating International Women’s Month, when we are supposed to honor our mothers, sisters, aunties, and nieces, makes it more inhuman, unchristian and reprehensible,” Uy said.
