Timberland eyed for theme park

CEBU, Philippines - About 179 hectares of timberland inside the Central Cebu Protected Landscape is being eyed by the Cebu City Government to be developed into a theme park, a new destination and attraction for local and foreign tourists here.

The area, which is within the boundary of Barangay Toong and Poblacion Pardo, is just a few kilometers away from the city proper and is very accessible to visitors, officials said.

Councilor Jose Daluz III said the Cebu City Hillyland Management Board has identified the area, which is just behind Alta Vista Resort and Golf Course, as timberland which if they want to use, requires permission from the environment department.

Since it is part of the CCPL, a Special use Agreements for Protected Areas (SAPA) must be secured from the DENR.

SAPA is a binding instrument between the DENR through the Protected Area Management Board allowing groups, any of the indigenous peoples, tenured migrants, local government units, government agencies and other stakeholders such as corporations, cooperatives, business entities and NGOs to co-manage a protected area through special use agreements.

This permit is granted provided that the applicant will be a partner by the government in protecting the area.

The 29,063-hectare CCPL is declared a protected area because it serves as the basin of the whole island.

About 22 of the cityÆs mountain barangays are within the CCPL. These are barangays Lusaran, Adlawon, Cambinucot, Agsungot, Mabini, Paril, Tagbao, Guba, Sirao, Sapang Daku, Babag, Pung-ol Sibugay, Taptap, Sinsin, Toong, Buhisan, Pamutan, Buot-Taup, Sudlon I and II, Bonbon and Tabunan.

Daluz said they will secure all the permits necessary within the year to start the development soon.

The area they identified will be divided into parcels of lot which will be developed by different private companies and non-government agencies or any entity interested.

Daluz assured they would allow only developments that will not destroy or alter but rather help preserve the environment.

He is envisioning a flower farm, a butterfly farm, a bird sanctuary, a mini diverse forest and the likes.

The city will be tapping private companies like SM Prime Holdings, San Miguel Corporation and Aboitiz Group of Companies, among others to develop the area.

Daluz said the city might provide incentives to participating private sectors like a tax holiday for five years and other forms of incentives possible.

Once they get the permit, Daluz added they will start creating a road network and will fence the area.

The councilor however said he is yet to get the approval of the mayor on the proposed project.   - (THE FREEMAN)