Noy moves to protect Palawan pasture land

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has taken protective action to preserve the Busuanga Pasture Reserve in Palawan by revoking a presidential proclamation issued under the previous administration that would effectively allow the conversion of vast tracts of pasture land into other uses.

In Proclamation No. 663 that he signed last Oct. 14, the President repealed Presidential Proclamation No. 2057 issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo authorizing the state-run Philippine Forest Corp. (Philforest) to administer tourism-related developments in the Busuanga property.

Aquino also transferred the administration of the pasture reserve to the Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from Philforest, one of five state entities earlier recommended to be abolished by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations.