Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) Executive Director Isabelo R. Montejo (with mic) explains to the members of the Provincial Development Council (PDC) Executive Committee the Bantayan Island management Plan. The Executive Committee is headed by Governor Hilario Davide III (2nd from right). (CDN PHOTO/PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
The initiative to make portions of Bantayan Island available for private ownership took another step forward yesterday with the approval of the island’s general land management plan by the Cebu Provincial Development Council (PDC).
The PDC also endorsed the Bantayan Island Wilderness Area General Management Plan (GMP) crafted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7).
DENR-7 spokesman Eddie Llamedo said they were given until Sept. 15 by Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo to submit the GMP to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje for final approval.
The GMP which took almost six years to complete classifies areas in the island into a multiple use zone and strict protection zone.
Out of the island’s total land area of 11,250 hectares, around 10,600 hectares were identified for multiple use or open to private ownership, which means these can be declared alienable and disposable and could be privately owned through Torrens title.
The remaining 650 hectares is allocated for the protection of the identified marine turtle nesting sites, mangrove areas and preservation of the identified water lens or water recharge areas.
Bantayan Island is classified as a protected wildlife area under Presidential Proclamation 2151, signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1981.
The management plan will be a “major component” of the congressional bill of Cebu 4th District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon to reclassify parts of Bantayan Island from a “wilderness area” to “alienable and disposable land,” said Llamedo.
The development of relocation sites for supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors in the Bantayan Island towns of Sta. Fe, Madridejos and Bantayan has been hampered by the land classification.
“The three municipalities of Sta. Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos has reached the level of development where protected areas have to be properly identified by separating them from the present mixed land uses prevailing in the urban areas,” stated the resolution.
SUBMIT TO COURT
Llamedo said the DENR will also submit the plan to the Mandaue environment court in compliance with the court’s order in 2009.
Former RTC Branch 21 Judge Marilyn Lagura-Yap prohibited the issuance of new Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) for projects in the island unless the management plan is completed.
Only then can the DENR resume “accepting, processing and approving applications for Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) of projects in the island.”
Several beach resorts were ordered to remove their seawalls and other illegal structures encroaching in 20-meter public easement from the shoreline.
The DENR will present the plan to the court after making final revisions this month, their spokesman said.
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