Senate holds hearing on Camotes resources

CEBU, Philippines – The Senate committee on environment and natural resources will conduct a public hearing today in Danao City on the proposed bill renationalizing the management of the natural resources in the Camotes Islands.

House Bill No. 897 introduced by Rep. Ramon Durano VI aims to amend Presidential Proclamation No. 2152 dated December 29, 1981 declaring the entire Province of Palawan and other areas as mangrove swamp forest reserves.

The presidential proclamation, which was issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos on December 20, 1981, declares the island of Ponson in Poro town and Pajican known as Camotes Islands in the Province of Cebu as among the Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserves in the country.

The classification means that there should be no settlements or sale of lands within these areas.

Senate Commitee Chairman Juan Miguel Zubiri will lead the public hearing alongside Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

Mayors of the different towns in the Camotes group of islands, officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and representatives from the private sector and environment groups will attend the public hearing that will start at 2 p.m. at the Danao City Training Center.

Rep. Durano, in introducing the bill, said that he wants to exclude the alienable and disposable dry lands of the islands of Ponson in Poro town and Pajican from the Mangroves Swamp Forest Reserves and to classify Ponson Island.

Durano said that the presidential proclamation is "very sweeping" as it includes the dry land areas which are not considered as mangrove swamps forests.

The Camotes group of islands have a total area of 20,765 hectares. Of this, 17,397 hectares are alienable and disposable drylands, 2,518 hectares are upland timberland, 850 hectares are mangrove swamp forests and 685 hectares comprise the Danao Lake.

Rep. Durano said that long before the issuance of the proclamation, there was already a growing settlement pattern in the place.

Proof of that, he said, is that the four municipalities there are already developed and complete with government offices.

He said that facilities such as concrete road networks, a port, market buildings, water system, schools and others are already in place.

'There is a need to protect the natural resources and the environment of Camotes Island but not to restrict also the use of these resources for the economic develop-ment," Durano said.

According to Durano, sustainable management of the environment and natural resources of Camotes islands is an important concern of the local government units.

On this, he said the four town governments have prepared their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plan pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Code.

The land use plans are still under review by the Provincial Land Use Committee and the current status of these places delays the review process. (FREEMAN)