Capitol now managing Malapascua Island

Capitol has taken over the lead agency in the management, administration and implementation of the Malapascua Island Eco-tourism Development Plan (MIEDP) after the municipality of Daanbantayan turned over its duties and responsibilities.

As a consequence, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has created the MIEDP Implementation and Enforcement Task Force that was presented to signatories of the memorandum of agreement during a meeting at Capitol's old session hall yesterday morning.

Turning over the duties and responsibilities entailed the signing of an amended MOA. The MOA, which was signed on August 1, 2003, aimed at bringing concerned parties for the effective implementation of the MIEDP.

It was the executive order issued by former governor Pablo Garcia on May 21, 2002 that created a technical working committee, which drafted the MIEDP.

By then, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had managed the operation of the island, being declared as a timberland or as an eco-tourism site. But it later turned over its authority to the municipal government last year.

But due to limited manpower, resources and capabilities, the municipal government decided to turn over its responsibilities to the province during the signing of an amended MOA yesterday morning.

The MOA signatories included the Capitol, municipality of Daanbantayan, DENR, Department of Tourism, Department of Interior and Local Government, Housing Land Use Regulatory Board and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The MIEDP task force is tasked to execute plans and programs related to structures and development, infrastructure, environment (land, coastal and marine), health, peace and order, security and law enforcement, water and power and resident's livelihood.

On June 13, the task force will visit the island to conduct a multi-faceted survey prior to the governor's visit the next day. - Cristina C. Birondo