DAVAO CITY – The developer of the country’s second wakeboarding park has finally secured a reclassification permit to complete the construction of the water sports complex here after local legislators spotted their violation of the local zoning ordinance from their original plan of adding up a subdivision.

The 10-heactare wakeboard park that is said to be worth P30 million, is located in Barangay Tacunan, Mintal, this city.
The area has been identified by the city’s zoning ordinance as light industrial zone.

8990 Housing, the developer of the Wakeboard Park, earlier received approval from the City Council here as local legislators thought the park is part of the subdivision.

“But when it turned out that the wakeboard park will be a business venture distinct and separate from the subdivision, we required the developer to apply for a reclassification,” Councilor Leonardo Avila III told the Manila Bulletin.

In their recent session, the City council approved 8990 Housing’s application for reclassification of the park from light industrial to parks and playgrounds zone, which in turn would need the developer to ditch their original plan of setting up a residential estate right in front of the said property.

Jesus Atencio, president and chief executive officer of Cebu-based 8990 Housing, said he was embarrassed that the development sparked controversy at the City Council for alleged lobbying with the business bureau for the approval of their permit.

“We intended to inaugurate the site August 28 but due to the reclassification issue, we had to stop from completing the park,” Atencio told the press here, adding that the park is now 95 percent complete.