Oriental Mindoro seeks to reclaim island from Antique

CALAPAN CITY, Philippines – The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro and the municipality of Bulalacao have filed a case against Antique province and its Caluya town to reclaim an island that was taken from them. 

Oriental Mindoro Vice Gov. Humerlito Dolor and provincial legal officer Kristine Grace Suarez filed the petition last week at the Regional Trial Court Branch 43 in Roxas town. 

In a 22-page petition, Oriental Mindoro and Bulalacao town seek to recover Liwagao Island, which was made part of Caluya in Antique. 

“We will not stop in reclaiming and reasserting ownership of Liwagao Island. This issue is not only for Bulalacao but also for the whole province of Oriental Mindoro,” Dolor said.

Dolor said residents of Liwagao Island are supporting their call to recover the island for Bulalacao and Oriental Mindoro. 

Dolor also cited the tourism potential of Liwagao Island for Mindoreños. “According to our proposed provincial development and fiscal framework plan, the municipalities of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, Mansalay and Bulalacao will be designated as tourism sites of Oriental Mindoro,” he said.

He said a certification from the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority showed that Liwagao, formerly known as Libag, belongs to Oriental Mindoro as per a proclamation issued by the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Liwagao has a total land area of 114 hectares with white sand beaches comparable to world class resorts, and various marine resources.

The town was made part of Antique in 1978 when former mayor Dolores Bago of Bulalacao verbally agreed to lend the island to former Caluya mayor Oscar Lim on the condition that it is returned to its original local government once the term of the two mayors ended.