Frasco wants forest declaration for Camotes lifted

CEBU, Philippines — To open up the Camotes group of islands to development and more economic opportunities for the residents there, Fifth District Representative Vincent “Duke” Frasco filed a bill Monday to lift the Mangrove Swamps Forest Reserves declaration for the islands of Poro, Pacijan, and Ponson in order to convert the dry lands portion to alienable and disposable lands.

On these islands are located the Municipalities of San Francisco, Tudela, Poro, and Pilar. House Bill No. 4785 was submitted to the House for First Reading last Wednesday, and was referred to the House committee on natural resources headed by Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr.

In his proposal, Frasco cited that there are “legal, economic and holistic justifications” for the exclusion of the dry lands in the Camotes islands from the classification as mangrove swamp forest reserves.

“The people of the islands have been deprived from developing their economy, attracting developers and investors, and getting what they rightfully deserve,” Frasco stated in his proposed bill.

The four island towns in Camotes are part of Cebu’s fifth district, which Frasco represents in the Lower House. Should it pass, Frasco’s bill is seen to boost the economy of the four Municipalities in Camotes and benefit its considerable population of around 102,996 according to the 2015 census.

What has been preventing residents from fully exercising their rights as land owners in the four island municipalities is Presidential Proclamation 2152 that then President Ferdinand Marcos issued on December 20, 1981.

Having been declared a forest reserve area, the lands in Camotes could not be sold or disposed of in any way or for whatever purpose.

Frasco’s proposal, though, would exclude the stretch of mangrove swamp connecting the towns of San Francisco and Poro from the alienable and disposable classification that he is seeking.

 “While we appreciate the government’s intention to protect the islands, it is unrealistic and causes more disadvantages rather than bring benefit for the people.

The intention of the presidential proclamation may have been laudable, but economic data would show that this has been prohibitive to growth and development,” added the congressman.

He further cited statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that thousands of people were living on the island municipalities as thriving communities even before the declaration of the areas as a forest reserve, and that local government units were in already in place before the declaration was issued 38 years ago.

 Emphasizing that the Municipalities in Camotes are ripe for development, Frasco said that it is only fitting that the government lift the declaration “so that the communities that have been thriving there can finally enjoy land ownership” and be given opportunities that can uplift their economic status.

 “Sa dugay na nga panahon, ang mga lumulopyo sa Camotes wala nakatagamtam ug igong kalamboan tungod kay dili mabaligya o matitulohan ang ilang mga yuta. Pinaagi niining balaodnon, aduna nay paglaum nga moangat ang ekonomiya sa Camotes,” according to Frasco. —  FPL (FREEMAN)