Senate hoped to okay Naga reclassification

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu First District Representative Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas is hoping that the Senate would push for the passage of a measure seeking to reclassify City of Naga's public lands into alienable and disposable.

"It has already passed the House of Representatives on third reading, and hopefully it will pass the Senate as well," Gullas said.

He recalled that the bill that declares the city's lands under the public domain as alienable and disposable lands has been archived since the 12th Congress.

The bill was first filed during the term of former congressman Jose "Dodong" Gullas in 2001 to 2004. It was approved in the Lower House, but got stuck in the Senate because of several questions.

When Dodong's brother, Eduardo Gullas, returned to Congress after his election in 2004, the latter re-filed the bill but it was met with same problem.

Samsam, who was at the Senate yesterday morning, said it was only in this present Congress that the bill got this far. He acknowledged the support of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources which is chaired by Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

Samsam, who said the bill recently passed the committee level in the Senate, is optimistic of its passage in the Upper House since all government agencies reportedly had no objections to the bill.

Samsam added that he will report the status of the bill to his district once it will be approved on the third reading at the Senate.

If the bill will be approved into law, the young legislator said, this will give many landless residents of the Naga the opportunity to own the parcels of public lots they are occupying.

Around 71 percent of the city's total land area is either timberland or public land, which means several residents will benefit from this law.

According to the Land Management Bureau website special patents can be issued "over alienable or disposable public lands pursuant to special laws."