By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Cebu Rep. Janice Salimbangon wants to rationalize the management of the natural resources located in Malapascua Island in Barangay Logon in the municipality of Daanbantayan in Cebu to attract investments and generate employment opportunities in the area.
House of Representatives (Congres PH / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The vice chairperson of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources called on the government to “aggressively” take the necessary steps to attract private individuals and entities who are willing to pour investments, and give security to the people who owned parcels of lands even before the declaration of Malapascua as timberland.
“The rationalization of the management of certain lands of Malapascua Island from timberland to agricultural, commercial, residential, industrial, and for other similar productive purposes must be the government’s initiative to answer the needs of the time. The rationalization of the management of these lands will pave the way to the establishment of different infrastructures especially the creation of a circumferential road of the entire island and services that would cater to the needs of the island,” she said.
Salimbangon filed House Bill 5731 which provides that the 138-hectare parcel of land of the public domain located within the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay Logon, municipality of Daanbantayan in Cebu shall be declared as agricultural, commercial, and industrial or other productive purposes.
"Considering the magnificence and rich local heritage of the island, the government’s affirmative stance in reclassifying these areas will definitely contribute much to the success of the tourism industry not only in the island of Malapascua but also to the entire country. Economic development will definitely soar which will pave to the creation of significant number of jobs, but likewise protect the island,” she said.
Under the bill, the concerned municipality is mandated to establish a coastal resources management plan that shall clearly delineate fish sanctuaries, or marine protected areas ecotourism, and other appropriate management zones.
HB 5731 provides the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the municipality of Daanbantayan shall keep an eye on the management of lands and natural resources found on the Malapascua Island.
The bill calls for the creation of the Malapascua Island Steering Committee, which shall be the highest policy-making body for forestlands and natural resources management in the Malapascua Island.
The Steering Committee shall be chaired by the regional director of DENR Region VII.
The bill provides that the Malapascua Island shall be excluded from the coverage of Presidential Proclamation No. 2151 dated December 29, 1981, which declares certain islands and/or parts of the country as wilderness areas, and shall be disestablished as an initial component of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) established pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038.
Any public officer or employee who knowingly recommends or causes the issuance of title over any portion of the protected areas or national parks identified in the proposed Act and its promulgated rules and regulations, after an appropriate administrative proceeding, shall be dismissed from the service and perpetually disqualified from public office, according to HB 5731.
He or she shall be slapped with two to four years of imprisonment and a fine amounting to P5,000, the bill provides.
The land title issued under the anomalous circumstances by such officer or employee shall be null and void, it said.
Within six months following the effectivity of the proposed Act, the Secretary of the DENR, in consultation with the concerned local government unit (LGU) of the Daanbantayan municipality, the provincial government of Cebu, and concerned national government agencies, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act.