Defensor: Ground survey is a must for SRP patent

An actual ground survey of the 295-hectare South Reclamation Properties is needed as basis for the issuance of its special patent, according to Environment Secretary Michael Defensor recently.

Defensor wrote Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas saying no special patent could be issued yet for the SRP because the DENR has yet to approve the required actual ground survey, which Cebu City endorsed only last month. Defensor made the clarification in response to an anonymous letter he received earlier from a Talisay City resident asking if the sketch plan of the SRP could serve as basis for the issuance of a special patent.

Cebu City submitted a sketch plan earlier but it was only made as the basis of President Gloria Arroyo in issuing, last May 16, Proclamation No. 843 declaring that Cebu City owns the SRP, said Defensor.

He said his office later asked Cebu City to submit the actual ground survey of the SRP to DENR's regional technical director for lands for verification and approval. There has been no resolution on the matter, so far. But Talisay City legal officer Aurora Econg recently argued that with the land survey, endorsed by Cebu City to DENR for approval, it would appear that there are approved private surveys of three parcels of land inside the SRP. Defensor then assured officials of the cities of Cebu and Talisay that the DENR will adhere to the rules and regulations for the issuance of a special patent.