Wednesday, June 04, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]
THE Controversial Boracay Crown Regency Hotel and Convention Center in Malay, Aklan, has increased the prices of it units by a million-peso each despite alleged violation of the construction moratorium in the renowned tourist spot in the province.
Richard King, president and chief executive officer of J. King and Sons Company, Inc. that owns the Crown Regency hotels chain, said the company increased the prices of the units by P1 million each after it introduced more features and amenities to enhance the value of the project.
The current price per unit of the project now ranges at P5 million to P6 million from the previous price of P4 million, said Joe Gianzon, vice president for sales and marketing, in a phone interview. “It is because there are fewer units left,” he said.
King also announced the company has pre-sold more than 25 percent of the project’s condotel units, and continues to receive purchase tenders and inquiries from buyers as well as prospective investors despite the issues raised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
In response, King said the company has gone on an all-out information campaign to educate and update the public on the real issues behind DENR’s order to stop construction of the Crown Regency Hotel and Convention Center in Boracay. “We have documents to show that all our decisions and actions are above-board,” he pointed out.
Besides the moratorium issue, the DENR also complained that King’s company is reclaiming a wetland area in the island. -- Ira Karen Apanay
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