PB urges PNoy to declare Bantayan, Camotes Islands as alienable lands

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board has requested President Benigno Aquino III to declare the islands of Bantayan and Camotes as alienable and disposable land.

 The board made the request through a resolution sponsored by Board Member Jude Thaddeus Sybico following a report of the National Housing Authority that it cannot provide relocation sites to typhoon victims but only financial assistance for housing materials due to the present status of the islands.

 Sybico said that by issuing a special proclamation, it would remove difficulties in the acquisition of relocation sites for the typhoon victims in the said areas.

 Sybico said the provincial government is willing to provide financial assistance to the affected local government units to purchase relocation sites.

“It is hampered from doing so owing to the lack of certificates of title covering them or by their status as inalienable lands,” Sybico said.

 The NHA-7 had only granted P2,500 to every family residing in untitled lands situated in protected areas but P250,000 housing package for those transferred to sites with certificates of title supporting the land purchase.

 â€œA situation that dampened the morale of our people at a time when it should be stoked,” Sybico said.

 NHA-7 director Gavino Figuracion earlier said the agency is tasked by the national government to provide permanent housing for affected families on the no build zone areas certified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

However, the lands in Bantayan and Camotes islands are not covered with titles because the areas were declared as Wilderness Area and Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserves, respectively.

 Since they cannot assist to permanent housing, Figuracion said they have coordinated with the congressmen to give housing materials.

 In Bantayan Island which is under Cebu fourth district Representative Benhur Salimbangon, Figuracion said there is an allocation of P15 million for the 2,119 families in the town of Madridejos; 3,000 in Bantayan, and around 1,000 in Santa Fe.

 In Camotes Island, Figuracion said there is also an allocation through fifth district Representative Joseph Ace Durano. — (FREEMAN)