Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon is optimistic that his bill seeking reclassification of the 136-hectare Malapascua Island from timberland to alienable and disposable land will be approved into law by the end of the year.
Salimbangon, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said that his bill was already approved at the Lower House early this year and that it is up in the plenary for discussion as Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri will be the one to file a similar bill at the Senate.
“Residents will benefit from this. Since they owned the land, they can now dispose, alienate or mortgage their properties,” Salimbangon said.
Aside from the declaration of the island as an eco-tourism destination, addressing the issues on marketing, accessibility, infrastructure, product development, and transportation to Malapascua as well as the preservation of its natural resources and local heritage are among the thrusts of the said bill.
For her part, Daanbantayan Vice Mayor Maria Luisa Loot assured no demolition of the more than 1,500 houses in the island without the promise of a relocation.
In fact, Loot said, they have already identified an area suitable for a relocation site but the move has to be studied further.
Malapascua is considered as one of the top 10 diving sites in the Philippines.
Four of these sites are located in Central Visayas - Malapascua and Moalboal in Cebu; Apo Island in Dauin, Oriental Negros; and Balicasag Island in Bohol.
The potential of the island as a diving destination was discovered only in the early ‘90s. Malapascua was first known for its wide stretch of white sand beach known as Bounty Beach.
Later on, it gained popularity for its beautiful coral gardens and excellent dive spots. Monad Shoal, an underwater plateau, is where sightings of thresher sharks and manta rays happen on a regular basis.
To date, this is the only place in the world where divers can reliably sight thresher sharks. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV