Camotes towns back bill rationalizing management of the island's resources

CEBU, Philippines - Local officials of the four municipalities in Camotes Island yesterday announced their support and approval of the bill filed before the House of Representatives and the Senate rationalizing the management of the natural resources in the island.

Mayor Jesus Fernandez Jr. of Pilar, Mayor Luciano Rama Jr. of Poro, Mayor Erwin Yu of Tudela and Mayor Aly Arquillano of San Francisco presented a resolution showing their support to Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources.

Zubiri presided over the public hearing yesterday in Danao City of Senate Bill No. 2463 or the Camotes Islands Natural Resources Management Act, which “seeks to rationalize the management of natural resources in the Camotes Island in the Province of Cebu.”

Under the bill, specific areas shall be declared as agricultural lands and forest lands and the management of the coastal waters.

Fifth district Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano IV filed similar bill before the House of Representatives.

Durano’s House Bill No. 897 aims to amend Presidential Proclamation No. 2152 dated December 29, 1981, declaring the entire Province of Palawan and other areas as mangrove swamp forest reserves.

In his bill, Zubiri seeks to exclude the alienable and disposable dry lands of the islands of Ponson, Poro and Pajican known as the Mangrove Swamp Forests Reserves.

Zubiri said that instead of conducting a hearing of the bill introduced by Rep. Durano, he decided to file a counterpart bill at the Senate to fast tract the discussion of the proposal.

Although, he clarified the need for a thorough review and study of land use management covering the Camotes Islands to avoid a repeat of Boracay’s sewage problems and unregulated development.

“Boracay was once a jewel of our tourism industry, however, over the years it has become a model of environmental abuse. We must be able to strike a balance between conservation and commercial needs,” said Zubiri.

“It is important that we consult each other and come up with co-management mechanism between the national government and the empowered local government units to be able to maximize the utilization of our lands and natural resources without sacrificing the needs of future generations and to avoid a repeat of the Boracay experience in the beautiful beaches of Camotes Island,” Zubiri stressed.

Rep. Durano said that when he presented the same bill, he gathered the data from the DENR, but surprised on the problems cited by Jesus Gerardo, officer-in-charge of the Land Classification Division of National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.

Gerardo said they are still finalizing the survey and technical description of the island and admitted that there are some errors on the data presented, which he said, need immediate correction.

Assistant Secretary Analiza Teh of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources central office also made some manifestation to address the issues that concern Camotes Island.

Both Teh and Gerardo assured Zubiri to support his committee and comply the necessary requirements needed by the committee.

Former President Ferdinand Marcos issued a presidential proclamation on December 20, 1981, declaring the island of Ponson in Poro town and Pajican known as Camotes Islands in the Province of Cebu as among the Mangrove Swam Forest Reserves in the country. The classification means that there should be no settlements or sale of lands within these areas.

Durano said that the presidential proclamation is “very sweeping” as it includes the dry land areas which are not considered as mangrove swamps forests.

The Camotes group of islands has a total area of 20,765 hectares. Of this, 17,397 hectares are alienable and disposable dry lands, 2,518 hectares are upland timberland, 850 hectares are mangrove swamp forests and 685 hectares comprise the Danao Lake. (THE FREEMAN)