Moalboal Mangroves: No nod from town to cut – exec

CEBU, Philippines - A councilor of Moalboal town clarified that the local government has nothing to do with the conversion of an estimated 2,000-square-meter mangrove forest in the town.

“Whoever was behind this project was armed with a certification that the property is alienable and disposable,” said Councilor Jinky Hanika in an interview with The Freeman.

Hanika, head of the town Council’s committee on agriculture, said the municipality never issued a permit to anyone for the cutting of the mangroves at the property in Poblacion East. The lot has also been reclaimed.

She said they tried to stop the cutting of the mangroves by asking the help of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Argao. The agency reportedly ordered to stop the cutting of the mangroves only to change its mind later.

The lot’s tax declaration of the property says it is named under a certain Iniego Jainar of Barangay Tomonoy, Moalboal.

The tax declaration has classified the 0.8-hectare property as “agriculture” as its actual use.

In July 6 last year, the cutting of the mangrove trees started allegedly upon the orders of one Bonifacio Malinao of San Fernando. Hanika said the mangroves were being cut on weekends when government offices are closed. She reportedly learned about the activity two days later, which prompted her to seek CENRO’s help.

“You are hereby ordered to stop further development of the area effective immediately upon receipt hereof, however if you insist, it will be at your own risk and this office, will not and does not at all times condoned (sic) such undertaking,” reads the July 22, 2013 order issued by Acting CENRO chief Flordeliza Geyrozaga to one Tamerlane Jainar

“Failure on your part, this office is constrain to file appropriate charges in court for violation of Section 77 of P.D. 705 as renumbered by Republic Act no. 7161 (Revised Forestry Code) and Executive Order 23 Series of 2011 (Total Log Ban as issued by President Aquino),” added Geyrozaga.

Last September 27, however, Geyrozaga, reportedly upon the order of her regional executive director, recalled the July 22 notice.

“Based on the legal opinion of the DENR-7 (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) chief legal division…its owner has the right to develop the converted area, provided that in doing so, it would not violate existing laws, rules, and regulation on the matter,” the new order reads.

Section 43 of PD 705 states that “Strips of mangrove forest bordering numerous islands which protect the shoreline, the shoreline roads, and even coastal communities from the destructive force of the sea during high winds and typhoons, shall be maintained and shall not be alienated. Such strips must be kept from artificial obstruction so that flood water will flow unimpeded to the sea to avoid flooding or inundation of cultivated areas in the upstream. All mangrove swamps set aside for coast-protection purposes shall not be subject to clear-cutting operation.”

An estimated 2,000 square meters of Moalboal’s mangrove forest in Poblacion East has been filled with limestone. Rumors have it that the area is being readied to become a location of the town’s shopping mall or a terminal area for a bus liner.

Hanika said she does not understand why Jainar was able to secure a tax declaration on the property and what baffles her more is the fact the supposed marshland was classified as agriculture. She, however, admitted that Moalboal has yet to craft its comprehensive land use plan (CLUP), which helps in the classification of the different land uses.

“Somewhere naa’y question nganung agricultural, klaro man kaayo unta nga mangrove,” she said.

Hanika said that last year, the Council approved a resolution requesting CENRO to furnish the body a copy of the criminal complaint allegedly filed against Malinao, the one allegedly behind the illegal cutting of the mangroves. The agency has not granted the request until now.

Rev. Fr. Murphy Sarsonas, the town’s assistant parish priest, said that like any major development, there should have been an environmental assessment on the area before any improvement is allowed.

“Kung mall or whatever, gitago pa kung unsa gyud, bogus kaayo ba. Dapat naa’y environmental assessment before utilizing the area. So now, mao na’y angay natong bantayan. Pero gauna naman, wa gani ECC (environmental compliance certificate) and all,” he said.

Hanika said the reclamation project was not given any permit, even at the barangay level.

Sarsonas said that instead of protecting what is left of the town’s mangrove forests, one unscrupulous individual or group has cut what would have been a breeding ground for thousands or even millions of fish for the town folk.

Hanika said that while Moalboal is famous for its white beaches and dive spots and thrives on the income from its tourism industry, many of its residents still depend on farming and fishing for a living.

The councilor said the storm surge, which killed thousands of people in Tacloban City, was a testament to the importance of mangroves to the environment. –/JMO (FREEMAN)