Demolition of 'eyesores' in Malapascua extended

After the September 14 deadline set by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to demolish illegal structures located within the salvage zone in Malapascua Island, the owners have been given a 10 days extension to voluntary tear down their structures.

Capitol consultant on security matters, Byron Garcia negotiated with property owners yesterday and asked them to sign the agreement.

The Capitol wrecking crew was set to destroy illegal structures yesterday.

Police S/Insp. Jovito Canlaban, the chief of police of Daanbantayan who escorted Garcia to the island yesterday said that they found out that some people were already voluntarily demolishing their own structures.

The provincial government is firm in its decision to have illegal beach resorts and other tourism-related establishments demolished to give way to the long overdue implementation of the 2003 Malapascua Island Eco-Tourism Development.

Last June 14, Governor Garcia announced a 90 days ultimatum within which owners of beach resorts and other tourism-related establishments in the area can voluntarily remove facilities and/or structures located within the salvage zone of the island.

This as structures on the Main Bounty Beach of the island have become eyesores to visiting tourists, aside from the fact that their location is a violation of PD 1067, otherwise known as the Water Code of the Philippines.

Declared as timberland during the Marcos regime, the island's easement zone would have been 40 meters but there is a move to ask for amendments in its classification to agricultural land that requires only a 20-meter salvage zone. - Gregg M. Rubio