81 hectares of gov't land lying idle in South, says COA

MANILA, Philippines - An estimated 81 hectares of government properties in Mindanao have been lying idle for years, thus causing the government to lose millions of pesos in potential income.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in a 2010 report, blamed much of the problem on informal settlers illegally occupying the government properties.

State auditors are calling on the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) to address the issue.

“Real properties amounting to P3,418,581.50 remained idle for years, thus their beneficial use were not fully developed to achieve the mandate of the agency relative to economic development,” COA said.

COA said the SPDA, a government-owned and controlled corporation, is supposed to pursue development concerns to promote the development of southern Philippines.

But a review of government properties in Mindanao under its watch showed that 21 of 35 parcels of land located in different areas are not being utilized.

Some of the properties were in the past used for corporate projects but were later abandoned when the SPDA was deactivated in November 2002.

The COA report said 62.6 hectares cover abandoned projects like a poultry project in Pasobolong, Zamboanga City; a feedmill project in Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City; a broodstock project in Panaon, Misamis Oriental; a rubber plantation in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato; and two fishponds in Davao Oriental.

Informal settlers, meanwhile, are occupying more than 24 hectares of the idle government properties with a market value of P17.6 million.

The COA report said informal settlers were able to occupy the government properties because no caretakers were assigned to look after these.

“There are also some properties that are currently occupied by other government offices. The SPDA could have generated additional income while performing its mandate to promote the development of southern Philippines if the pieces of property amounting to P1,591,643 were sold to the present occupants,” state auditors said.

The COA report said the SPDA should negotiate with local government units and other government agencies concerned in the settlement of the parcels of land occupied by informal settlers and being used for government offices.

“Further, we recommended that the management direct its programs and activities toward the development of its existing resources to effectively attain its mandate while generating income for the government,” COA said.