Who issues permits and licenses for businesses to operate? Who is in charge of ensuring businesses are not violating the law? Who is accountable for the violations committed by businesses? These were questions raised by residents and visitors experiencing the iron hands of President Rodrigo Duterte, following his strong declaration demanding order amid the sad state Boracay is currently in.

It is not only the owners of establishments operating in Boracay to blame for abuses.

Local residents blame local government officials, along with local environmental agencies, for tolerating acts being undertaken by resort and hotel owners. It’s either irresponsible government officials allowed them to continue operating in the same fashion or they played blind to what owners were doing.

Government people are accountable.

It took a no-nonsense president for cabinet officials to take action. Many believe, had Duterte not gotten mad and warned various officials, these violations would have continued. This is something past presidents have failed to do – being strong and determined to put things in the right place.

Yet, some still refuse to admit current leadership is doing things better than previous administrations.

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Kudos to Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya for initiating the idea for an asphalt overlay on the highway at the old airport – that is how it should be. Other roads in the city need the same treatment.

In addition, the center island along the Tangub Highway, built when Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia was a congressman, was a good move. Motorists hope Gasataya will extend the center island to the Sum-ag boundary. How about that?

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Over the next several days, Bacolod City will play host to hundreds of golfers from across the country and abroad for the PAL Interclub Golf Tournament, which starts today, March 1.

I was involved with the tournament back in the early 1990s.

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Also scheduled for April is the Panaad sa Negros Festival, another fun tourism event.

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Are we going to be looking at Charter Day celebrations in June from now on?

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This column greets Atty. Clint Aranas, Gerard Tupas, Richard Oquendo, Atty. JV Hinlo, Brenda Tenk, William Ong, Raymond Dabao, Ricky Monfort, Totong Regalado, Mayette Yao, Tony Oquindo, Bobby Tee, and Francis Redil Villanueva./WDJ