by Ambrosio R. Villorente
House Bill No. 1109 authored by Hon. Florencio T. Miraflores was the main topic of discussion during the weekly tri-media program "Kapehan Sa Aklan" last Saturday, August 9, 2008. The weekly program is being held at Kusina sa Kalibo from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M.
House Bill No. 1109 is already approved in the House of Representatives and is now awaiting discussion in the Senate.
House Bill No. 1109 is "An Act Declaring Certain Parcels of Land of the Public Domain Within Boracay Island, Municipality of Malay, Province of Aklan as Agricultural Lands Open to Disposition For Agricultural, Residential, Commercial, Industrial or Other Production Purposes".
Section 1 of the bill specifically delineates the 644.71 hectares to be declared open to disposition. These areas are situated in Yapak and Angol Point. It also provides that this defined parcels of land are excluded from the operation of Presidential Proclamation No. 1801, dated November 10, 1978 "Declaring Certain Islands, Coves and Peninsulas as Tourist Zones and Marine Reserves Under The Administration and Control of the Philippine Tourism Authority.
Section 2 also provides that the DENR shall alienate the agricultural lands identified in Section 1 of the bill through the issuance of a free patent over any parcel of the identified area of land to any citizen of the Philippines who for at least thirty (30) years prior to the effectivity of this Act has continuously occupied and/or cultivated either by himself or through his predecessors in-interest or who shall have paid the real estate tax for that land, and has not been occupied by any other person shall be entitled under this act to have free patent issued to him/her for such tract of land not to exceed twelve (12) hectares per applicant.
But the said bill has been the subject of protest rallies in Boracay. It is also the subject of negative commentaries in the national newspapers, television and radio. In the words of Mr. Johnny P. Dayang, Cong. Miraflores appears to be losing grounds in public relations maneuver. "Two senators have surfaced to oppose House Bill No. 1109 in the Senate", Dayang added who is from Aklan and president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. In his conversation with Bohol Congressman Chato, he learned that said bill was never discussed in a plenary session in the House of Representatives. Dayang recommends for an open discussion of the House Bill No. 1109 for common understanding of the said bill. He proposed for the holding of the Boracay Summit with House Bill No. 1109 as the principal agenda.
Atty. Allen S. Quimpo expressed his support for House Bill No. 1109 as it will be for the best interest of every Filipino and the country. The bill if approved into law and fully implemented will hasten Boracay Island and tourism development. According to Quimpo, he has filed an identical bill during his time in the House of Representatives. But it didn’t reach first base. I experienced difficulty even with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the request for data needed to support my bill", Quimpo confided. He traced the development history of Boracay until it became what it is today.
There are only two groups which are opposed to the bill. It is DENR which is hesitant to classify and release the land as alienable for it will also lose control of the land. Another group are the big businessmen who prepare a status quo, Quimpo believes. On the other hand, the small land owners are in favor for the approval of the bill. /MP
House Bill No. 1109 is already approved in the House of Representatives and is now awaiting discussion in the Senate.
House Bill No. 1109 is "An Act Declaring Certain Parcels of Land of the Public Domain Within Boracay Island, Municipality of Malay, Province of Aklan as Agricultural Lands Open to Disposition For Agricultural, Residential, Commercial, Industrial or Other Production Purposes".
Section 1 of the bill specifically delineates the 644.71 hectares to be declared open to disposition. These areas are situated in Yapak and Angol Point. It also provides that this defined parcels of land are excluded from the operation of Presidential Proclamation No. 1801, dated November 10, 1978 "Declaring Certain Islands, Coves and Peninsulas as Tourist Zones and Marine Reserves Under The Administration and Control of the Philippine Tourism Authority.
Section 2 also provides that the DENR shall alienate the agricultural lands identified in Section 1 of the bill through the issuance of a free patent over any parcel of the identified area of land to any citizen of the Philippines who for at least thirty (30) years prior to the effectivity of this Act has continuously occupied and/or cultivated either by himself or through his predecessors in-interest or who shall have paid the real estate tax for that land, and has not been occupied by any other person shall be entitled under this act to have free patent issued to him/her for such tract of land not to exceed twelve (12) hectares per applicant.
But the said bill has been the subject of protest rallies in Boracay. It is also the subject of negative commentaries in the national newspapers, television and radio. In the words of Mr. Johnny P. Dayang, Cong. Miraflores appears to be losing grounds in public relations maneuver. "Two senators have surfaced to oppose House Bill No. 1109 in the Senate", Dayang added who is from Aklan and president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. In his conversation with Bohol Congressman Chato, he learned that said bill was never discussed in a plenary session in the House of Representatives. Dayang recommends for an open discussion of the House Bill No. 1109 for common understanding of the said bill. He proposed for the holding of the Boracay Summit with House Bill No. 1109 as the principal agenda.
Atty. Allen S. Quimpo expressed his support for House Bill No. 1109 as it will be for the best interest of every Filipino and the country. The bill if approved into law and fully implemented will hasten Boracay Island and tourism development. According to Quimpo, he has filed an identical bill during his time in the House of Representatives. But it didn’t reach first base. I experienced difficulty even with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the request for data needed to support my bill", Quimpo confided. He traced the development history of Boracay until it became what it is today.
There are only two groups which are opposed to the bill. It is DENR which is hesitant to classify and release the land as alienable for it will also lose control of the land. Another group are the big businessmen who prepare a status quo, Quimpo believes. On the other hand, the small land owners are in favor for the approval of the bill. /MP
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