Capitol to demolish illegal structures in Malapascua Island
Hundreds of residents in barangay Loon in Daanbantayan town may lose their homes before the feast of the Miraculous Virgin delos Desamparados comes on May 12.
The Capitol is set to demolish the structures, buildings and establishments constructed along the beachfront of barangay Loon, also known as
Provincial legal officer Marino Martinquilla issued last April 7 the final notice and demand to vacate and demolish illegal structures within 30 days.
The demolition is set on May before the occasion. Despite such, barangay Loon residents are looking forward to their fiesta and, in fact, have already started receiving guests and friends who are devotees of their patron saint.
Barangay captain Rex Novabos has set a dialogue with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia within this week with the affected residents to convince her not to proceed with the demolition. So far, no relocation site has been designated for the affected residents who have reportedly long been inhabitants of the island.
Novabos said that he has been attending the meeting of the Malapascua Island Eco-Tourism Development Plan Task Force and that there were no discussions on the demolition of residential structures.
What was agreed upon is that residential structures within the easement zone could no longer be improved until these are destroyed, he said.
Martinquilla, in his notice, reminded the owners of the illegal structures that the deadline set, of which they had been previously informed, to voluntarily vacate and demolish, which is
Owners of the illegal structures are only given 30 days to voluntarily vacate, otherwise the province, which has been tasked to serve as the lead agency in the implementation of the development plan, would be constrained to cause its demolition and to charge owners the expenses incurred in carrying out demolition works. — Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV
- Latest
- Trending
