DENR almost done with demolition in Bantayan

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources-7 has almost completed the demolition and removal of illegal structures and constructions along the beach resorts on Bantayan Island.

The demolition, which started last May 28, was implemented following the order issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Marilyn Lagura Yap in August 2009.

Subject for demolition were a cottage in Abaniko Beach Resort; seawall, concrete fence and a portion of the bar house in Tickety Boo Beach Resort; seawall, bar and restaurant in Yoonek Beach Resort; seawall, five kiosks, solid fence and two rest houses in Kota Beach Resort; seawall, five kiosks in Marlin Beach Resort; and Seawall, bar and restaurant, and cottage in St. Bernard Beach Resort, all on Bantayan Island.

Yap granted last July 23 the DENR an additional period of 60 days to comply with the order, which dated August 25, 2009, to complete the demolition of the pillars at Tickety Boo and the removal of the seawall and concrete kiosk at St. Bernard.

She also ordered for the conduct of an inventory of the sites of the shores around Bantayan Island to identify the constructions that violate the 20-meter easement zone.

DENR Regional Executive Director Leonardo R. Sibbaluca said: “we filed a Partial Compliance with the Sheriff’s Notice to Demand to Comply Writ of Execution dated 12 May 2010 with Motion for Extension for the Fulfillment of the Writ of Execution to complete the tasks for 60 days.”

“We are conducting an inventory on the beach resorts with illegal structures in Bantayan Island and other areas in Central Visayas. I have issued a Regional Special Order dated 26 July 2010 to constitute a regional sub-team to execute and implement the delineation, survey and inventory of the 20-meter easement zone along the shores of Bantayan Island,” Sibbaluca said.

The DENR regional sub-team composed of eight members is headed by Engineers Carlington Catadman and Rolando Recilla. The team will be under the supervision of Cebu PENR Officer Richard Abella and Bantayan Island Wilderness Area Protected Area Superintendent Vicente Calizar. 

PD 1067 (The Water Code of the Philippines) provides that “the banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and throughout their entire length and within a zone of three meters in urban areas, 20 meters in agricultural areas and 40 meters in forest areas, along their margins are subject to the easement of public use in the interest of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and salvage.

According to the Order dated 25 August 2009, the structures prejudice the inhabitants whose livelihood consists of fishing because, then, there is no space provided for their fishing boats/bancas on the shores.

“We received explicit instructions from DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje to immediately cause or carry out the identification of structures or constructions that violate the 20-meter easement zone in Bantayan Island and comply with the Writ of Execution without delay,” Sibbaluca said. —/LPM (FREEMAN)