PENRO, DOT to reassess structures along shorelines

CEBU, Philippines — All establishments along the shorelines of Oslob town in southern Cebu will be reassessed by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) on their compliance of the 20-meter easement zone.

This is in line with the Capitol’s plan to improve the town’s tourism industry.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday met with Oslob Mayor Jose Tumulac and Department of Tourism (DoT) Region 7 Director Shalimar Tamano to discuss her prospective tourism programs for the municipality.

“She discussed with us her plans for Oslob, to upgrade it,” Tamano told reporters after the meeting.

The governor presented her plans, which include the reassessment on the compliance of the establishments along the shorelines to the required easement.

PENRO personnel together with the representatives from DOT-7 will conduct the survey.

According to Tamano, the governor wanted details on the present situation of Oslob. “She wants to find out all the details,” he said.

For his part, Tumulac said the inspection will focus on the compliance of the establishments along the shores of Oslob on the 20-meter easement zone prescribed by Section 51 of the Water Code of the Philippines.

The said provision prohibits the building of commercial infrastructure within 20 meters from the shorelines in the rural areas.

Tumulac said a resolution has been passed by the Oslob Municipal Council asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to reclassify the area from rural to urban.

“Duna man gud mi gihimo na resolution nga gi-reclassify namo ang area gikan sa rural paingon sa urban,” he said.

The reclassification would loosen the easement zone from 20 meters to only 3 meters. Tumulac said that 20 meters is too big for the commercial establishments, especially resorts. He shared that the resolution will be forwarded to the DENR along with the town’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).

The mayor added that the establishments were also previously granted business permits. However, a leeway of six months was given to the business operators to comply with the lacking requirements which may now include adherence to the easement zone if they are found to have violated.  FPL (FREEMAN)