The City Council expressed alarmed by the activities of allegedly overstaying Chinese nationals in Puerto Princesa who are renting rooms in several inns and hotels for several days and even months.
They pushed for the creation of a task force that will strenghten monitoring and conduct inspection to these accommodation establishments reportedly occupied by Chinese.
Last week, City Councilor Victor Oliveros requested the presence of different agencies of the government and different offices of the city government to discuss the reported overstaying Chinese who are doing online activities.
He claimed that some hotel earned P450,000 monthly and P60,000 monthly van rental because these group of Chinese occupied several rooms in some hotels. Yesterday, during the regular session Councilor Oliveros reiterated his call to check and monitor the reported online activities of the group of Chinese inside the hotel rooms.
“Hindi natin alam kung ano ang ginagawa nila sa loob, hindi naman natin sila inaakusahan pero sana ay malaman natin kung naayon pa ba sa mga alituntunin, sa mga batas yoong operations na doon ginagawa sa loob ng silid,” he said. Thess Vicente, head of the city’s business permits and licensing office said that there are 13 hotels and inns rented by these group of Chinese.
Per records of their office, there are already six accommodation establishments who did not renew their mayor’s permit this year. When inspected by their personnel, its caretaker refused to allow them to inspect and they claimed that they are no longer operating as a hotel.
City Tourism Officer Demetrio Albior confirmed that there are hotels and inns ocupied by these Chinese. They occupied less than 20 rooms. In one hotel, portion of it part was converted into a conference room cum computer shop. Computer tables and computer units are found in the area.
The City Council recommended to the City Mayor to form a task force to monitor the activities of the alleged overstaying Chinese and their online activities inside the hotels and inns.