A security guard assigned at Shell island looks at urban garbage swept in by the waves in this January 2015 file photo.
The Cordova municipal government will take over Shell Island despite a claim by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that they own the island because it is an unclassified forest land.
Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said the municipal government decided to take full responsibility of the island since the DENR failed to maintain the place last Dec. 1.
The mayor said when they went to the island, they were surprised with the illegal activities in the area.
“There was garbage that we have yet to fully dispose of, a shooting range, an open-air motel where minors are brought by pimps by boat and paraphernalia for dynamite fishing and even ingredients for shabu,” Sitoy said.
He said he designated police personnel, Bantay Dagat personnel and blue guards to closely monitor the island.
Private sector
Sitoy said the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) asked them for help in expelling the blue guards of the previous lessor, Cebu Coliseum.
The Cebu Coliseum has a forest land agreement (FLAG) with the DENR.
Sitoy filed administrative and criminal charges against DENR Regional Director Isabelo Montejo at the Ombudsman-Visayas last January for not authorizing the Cordova municipal government to look into the situation in Shell Island.
Montejo said in a Kapihan sa PIA forum last Wednesday that they didn’t authorize Cordova or the private sector to manage Shell Island due to the FLAG.
The land was leased for 25 years by Cebu Coliseum and was recently turned over to DENR after 50 years, he said.