Boracay land plan to push through

Environment Secretary Michael Defensor is determined to push through with the planned reclassification of land on Boracay island in Aklan amid mounting opposition from resort owners and possible investors.

Defensor argued that investors have welcomed the government’s move to provide security of tenure to occupants of unclassified lands in the island resort, contrary to reports that some investors had reconsidered their plans to conduct business on the resort island following the government’s announcement of its plans.

"We are firm in pushing through with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) plan to reclassify lands in Boracay," Defensor said. "After decades of neglect, the DENR is now putting to rest all ambiguities in land ownership in Boracay. We believe that having a land title will be beneficial to residents and investors because they will be assured of ownership of their land or properties."

It is time to put to order the land titling of Boracay, where land ownership has long been virtually undefined, he added.

Defensor said that after the reclassification process is complete, the people can decide on how to perfect their land titles, either through judicial action or administrative proceedings.

The DENR chief also disclosed that Annabel Wisnieski, president and chief executive officer of HSAI-Raintree International, had given him an assurance that the company would push through with its plan to construct a P500-million hotel in Boracay.

HSAI-Raintree was earlier reported to be having second thoughts on pursuing the project because of the government’s plan to reclassify lands.

"Other investors have expressed the same sentiment," he added.

Defensor explained that under the law, all unclassified lands are considered as part of the public domain and therefore can never be transferred to private ownership.

"Reclassifying about 56 percent of Boracay’s 1,032-hectare land area as alienable and disposable will pave the way for residents and new investors in the country’s premier island-resort to perfect their titles to their properties," Defensor said.