The floating cottage rental business in San Vicente, Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City that offered an extreme water activity, which led to the death of a guest, has been operating on an expired permit, according to the City Treasurer’s Office.

However, according to the manager of the cottage rental service, they were issued a temporary permit by the City Treasurer’s Office as the facility is still set for inspection before they could be issued a mayor’s permit.

Claire Cabalda, acting city treasurer, pointed out that the temporary business permit expired on July 1, 2024. As a new applicant for a busines permit, she said, the firm was given 90 days starting on the day they applied for a permit in May 2024 to comply with the rest of the regulatory documents.

Cabalda said that offering extreme water activities is not part of the business permit application.

After a cease and desist order was upon the floating cottage rental business on July 20, 2024, the City Treasurer’s Office inspected the area on July 23, 2024. Other similar businesses operating in Lapu-Lapu City were also inspected.

However, the management of the floating cottage has stood by its claim that the business permit is not expired.

A 43-year-old tourist from Cagayan de oro City availed of the “jumping balloon” extreme fun water activity on July 11, 2024, but a bad landing on the water blob, instead of into the sea directly, knocked her out of consciousness. She was rushed to the hospital, but expired on July 19, 2024 due to spinal injury.

The manager of the floating cottage said they have not reached a settlement yet with the family of the tourist, citing that the amount asked by the family is allegedly a huge sum.

Lapu-Lapu City Police have not received any information yet as to whether the family of the guest would pursue the filing of a case.

Lieutenant Colonel Christian Torres, spokesperson of the Lapu-Lapu City Police, said that the family can still file charges against the management despite a waiver signed by the guest.

Meanwhile, the Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Office initiated a meeting with boat operators and tour guides in the city on July 23, 2024. Among the topics raised are the centralization of all island-hopping activities and tour packages, and regulations on the number of tour guides after it was observed that tour guides operating sans permit are growing in number in the city.

Garry Lao, new city tourism officer, ordered an inventory of all sports and water fun activities offered by resorts and establishments in the city and the corresponding safety practices.