Simala fenced property “trapped” 23 houses

CEBU, Philippines - Some residents in Barangay Simala in the town of Sibonga claimed that there have now been 23 houses “trapped” after an owner of a private property fenced an area including the lone path going to the main road.

Anselmo Semoran, 55, a resident of Sitio Puntod, said the owner (name withheld pending her comment) fenced her property, which is situated in a coastal area, and extended it to the shoreline.

Due to this, Semoran lamented that fisherfolks could no longer utilize a part of the coastline, which has been awarded to a group he heads and called Simala Bantay Dagat Association (SIMBADA) under the Community-based Forest Management Agreement.

 CBFMA is a production sharing agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which provides tenurial security that entitles forest communities to use and develop the forestland and resources for a duration of 25 years.

 “Dako kaayo nig epekto sa mga mananagat kay di na makaplastar sa ilang mga pumpboat labi na og dunay kalamidad moabot… Karon naglutaw-lutaw na lang gyod ang mga pumpboat,” Semoran said, adding that the same area is being utilized by SIMBADA members as a meeting place.

Semoran, together with two other SIMBADA members from Sitio Puntod, went yesterday to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office to air their complaint.

His companions Josefina Obillas, 45, and Jimmy Eseguerra, 39, raised safety concerns for students, whose houses are located inside the fenced area.

“Naa’y mga estudyante nga mosuong sa koral padulong sa highway. Kung hunas, ang uban mangagi sa dagat. Unya kung malumos unya?” Obillas said.

Semoran said the fence was mounted beyond the 20-meter easement from the shoreline, which is contrary to the law.

 Based on Article 51 of the Water Code of the Philippines, “the banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes throughout their length and within a zone of three meters in urban areas, 20 meters in agricultural areas and 40 meters in forest areas, are subject to the easement of public use”.

Under the law, staying in this zone longer than what is necessary for recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing or salvage or to build structures of any kind is prohibited.

A team from PENRO checked the area on Monday and found out that the fencing has no permit from the municipality, Semoran said.

He added that PENRO assured to assist them and further recommended consulting the matter first to the barangay captain. — (FREEMAN)