Wednesday, November 9, 2011
THE House of Representatives has approved the bill of Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI (Cebu, fifth district) reclassifying a huge portion of Camotes Island from timberland to alienable and disposable lands so these can be titled in the name of private individuals and local government units (LGUs).
Speaking before the 888 News Forum, Durano said his bill was approved by the Lower House last Oct. 3 and was forwarded to the Senate last Oct. 12.
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Durano said if the bill is passed into law, land with tax declarations in the municipalities of San Francisco, Poro, Tudela and Pilar may be applied for land titling.
At present, lands where municipal buildings, health centers and public markets stand cannot be titled under the name of the LGUs because the sites are classified as timberland.
The entire Camotes Island is classified as timberland, which means no private individual and LGU can apply for land titling. This, he added, is a hindrance to development.
Protected areas
Durano said the lakes and mangrove areas will remain as protected areas and cannot be titled.
Camotes is part of the fifth district.
According to Durano, he is going to meet with Sen. Francis Escudero who will handle the counterpart bill in the Senate to fast-track its approval into law.
He said that in the 13th Congress (2007-2010), he filed House Bill (HB) 1100 of the same tenor, which was passed by the House of Representatives and was forwarded to the Senate.
Even though then senator Juan Miguel Zubiri prepared a report recommending its passage into law, the bill was stalled.
Durano re-filed it in the present Congress as House Bill 897, which seeks to rationalize the management and development of the island to prevent ecological destruction.
Management
Aside from reclassifying at least 60 percent of Camotes Island as alienable and disposable, a provision of the HB 897 creates a management committee to manage and monitor development, especially of the beaches.
“Camotes is now a new destination for local tourists and foreigners who are visiting the island often. But the local officials and the residents don’t want what Boracay is now,” Durano said.
The committee, Durano said, will be composed of all the four town mayors, and officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Tourism.
Durano said he will request Escudero to read the committee report signed by Zubiri so he could be enlightened about the importance of the bill.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 09, 2011.
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