DENR seeks to ensure protection of islets

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 is set to conduct an inventory of small islands or islets in the four provinces in Central Visayas.

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo, in a statement, said they want to establish a research station or a climate change office while ensuring the protection and preservation in these islets.

Aside from this, the agency also wants to ensure that forestlands or timberlands are not owned privately.

Under Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Code of the Philippines specifically Section 16 states that lands or areas less than 250 hectares even if these are not 18 percent in slope are needed for forest purposes and may not be classified as alienable and disposable.

“It means that these areas or lands are forest or timber land and should not be alienated or should not be owned privately,” Montejo said.

He said the inventory of these islets will cover the number of  hectares, existing services and facilities, number of households and access to utilities like power and water.

In his memorandum, Montejo directed the four Provincial Environment  and Natural Resources Officers in the region to submit an implementation plan on how to conduct or carry out relevant activities in relation to the inventory.

Aside from Montejo, 15 other regional directors were directed by DENR Secretary Ramon PJ Page to conduct such inventory in their respective areas of responsibility.   (FREEMAN)