This, according to Joseph Lozano, operations manager of Puning Hot Spring and Restaurant, noting road safety concerns with Romero’s convoy of “about 14 to 20 4×4 vehicles.”
On Monday, Lozano explained to media that they were just following proper safety coordination in stopping Romero’s group from proceeding to a winding uphill section of the road. He said the Puning staff, equipped with handheld two-way radios, allowed the downhill vehicles to proceed first since they were already on their way down, and stopping Romero’s group that just arrived.
But Lozano said the action was misunderstood by Romero as preventing them from using the road altogether.
Lozano said Romero’s group was eventually allowed to proceed after the vehicles going downhill came down.
He said the group of Romero apparently came from the Clark Freeport Zone’s (CFZ) Gate 14 and wended their way on the Sacobia riverbed to Barangay Inararo here when they were momentarily stopped by the Puning staff.
Lozano recalled that a similar incident happened two years ago involving Romero. This made them all too aware of his complaint that is why they were careful in dealing with him. Since then, he said, Romero has been using the road every so often. “Labas masuk ne pu keni I Mr. Romero (Mr. Romero has been coming in and out of here),” he said.
But proper safety coordinating procedures on February 13 was misunderstood by Romero as barring them again from using the road, he explained.
“They are not being barred from using the road,” he clarified.
Lozano said Puning is owned by his sister, Maria Carmencita Lozano-Kim, under a single proprietorship. He said his sister is married to a Korean national which explains why 60 percent of their guests are Koreans.
But he said the local folk and Pinoys from Manila and other places as well as a host of celebrities frequent Puning especially on weekends and holidays.
MOA
Lozano said Puning hires about 69 employees and 71 workers that are on call since it started operations in November 2008. He said they have a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Porac Aeta Ancestral Domain (PAAD) signed by its chairman Roman King, Aeta chieftain Fred Pan and Mary Bulatao, the former village chief of Barangay Inararo.
He said under the MOA, the PAAD allocates some financial aid to two communities – Barangay Inararo and Sitio Target in adjoining Barangay Sapangbato, Angeles City.
He said Romero’s request for a copy of the MOA should be properly coursed through the PAAD.
But Romero in a text message earlier on Monday said: “Puning must show all proofs of its claims and actions to clear all doubts and questions. But if they can prove that we (4×4 clubs) should not be allowed to use the right of way/property, then so be it. We will honor their claim. Otherwise we will not stop to seek justice on the issue.”
No ECC
Romero also charged Puning of having no Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).
“From the layman’s point of view, they definitely altered the environment in building the resort and the narrow road between mountains leading to the area of the resort is not safe. We just realized this as we were told by a government official,” he said.
Meanwhile, Puning is fast becoming a tourists’ destination due to its proximity from the Clark International Airport which is only about 15 to 20 minutes via Clark’s Sapangbato Gate.
Puning has three stations – the first is the Base Camp where a garden restaurant with traditional native huts is located; the second station, which can only be accessed using 4×4 vehicles, has a spa where guests are treated to a therapeutic sand steam and mud packs. It is described as a healing treatment courtesy of Mt. Pinatubo. It is about 10 minutes using 4×4 vehicles from the first station; and the third station is where the hot spring pools are located. It is about 20 minutes from the second station using 4×4 vehicles.
Along the way are scenic views of mountain canyons and lahar carved out by Mother Nature.
On March 5, some 21 international airline representatives who are participants in the Routes Asia 2016 in Manila are set to come to Puning as part of their itinerary in visiting the Clark airport.
