What islands can't be titled or leased?

All islands with areas 50,000 hectares or less cannot be granted with a title, concession, permit, or lease. Environment Secretary Michael Defensor have instructed all regional executive director, provincial environment and natural resources officers and the City Environment and Natural Resources to desist from granting titles to applicants or claimants of small islands.

The move aims to ensure the sustainable use, development, management, protection and conservation of the country's environment and natural resources while these small islands are still under an inventory. The result of the inventory would be used in formulating policy standards to preserve the islands ecological integrity.

" We want to ensure that all the island's ecological integrity has been preserved. But in emergency cases, title may be granted but needs a clearance from me and no one else is allowed to issue such without my approval," Defensor said.

Islands and islets with areas less than 50,000 are strict conservation areas and cannot be alienated or disposed of in any manner, Defensor said.