The House Committee on Natural Resources chaired by Cavite Cong Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. approved 2 House Bills principally authored by Cong. Edgar Chatto in relation to the land issues in the following places: Pamilacan Island in Baclayon, islands of Sandingan and Cabilao in Loon and Pangangan Island in Calape.
The said panel approved House Bill 607 on Nov. 29, 2022 which will help tackle the issue about Pamilacan Island.
In the explanatory note of House Bill 607, Pamilacan Island is a small island located in the municipality of Baclayon at the heart of Bohol Sea and 12 kilometers from the mainland and home to 200 families.
Under Presidential Decree 705, series of 1975, the island remains unclassified. Despite the activities in the island, occupants, would-be lot owners are prevented from applying for lot ownership unless the island is re-classified as alienable and disposable by a law.
For so long a time, the residents of Pamilacan Islands possess land titles of their respective lots. It was the government, following a cadastral survey, which issued the land titles of the residents and these titles have been handed down from one generation to the next.
However, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) filed cases against the Pamilacan residents who possess land titles of lots in the said place.
“Tungod kay, matud pa ang isla dili pwedeng titulohan ang mga yuta, tungod kay violation kini sa Small Islands Law,” Chatto explained during an interview over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa on Dec. 2, 2022, hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado.
In the explanatory note, it says that the bill aims to correct the current situation and allow for land ownership to deserving constituents and the development of the area.
The unclassification of Pamilcan Island gave rise to a social problem among the residents of the said island where people are expected to exert great effort to protect land holdings. The people here have long possessed lot titles only to be deprived of such because of a 1970 law which says that island lots cannot be titled.
“Mao ni nga dakong perhisyo kay moadto pa sila intawn sa RTC [Regional Trial Court] sa Loay aron moatubang ug kaso sa ilang mga yuta ug mugasto sila sa ilang pagbyahe. Daghang nahimo kining [maon] social issue,” Chatto said.
People of Pamilacan Island asked how to resolve the problem and Chatto did a research and met with officials of the DENR, Office of the Solicitor General, and even with the Office of the President just to look for solutions regarding the matter.
Chatto said that he was able to get the support of DENR Regional Director Paquito Melicor and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Ariel Rica, which strengthened the stance leading to the approval of the measure at the said House panel.
Ironic, Chatto said that the government was the one who issued to the people the lot titles before but now it is also the same government that is leading the way for the cancellation of the issued lot titles to Pamilacan Island residents.
“The solution that we are recommending is the filing of a bill in Congress to classify the land [in Pamilacan] as agricultural,” Chatto quipped.
When the island is classified as agricultural, then it is already alienable and disposable where people can now have perfected land titles.
Now, the bill is being sent to the plenary for more deliberations and then once approved by the members of the House of Representatives, it will then be tackled in the Senate, before a consolidated bill will then be presented to the President for his signature so it can become a law.
Chatto acknowledged the presence of Rica, Baclayon mayor Alvin Uy, Kag. Jodel Cabahug and Pamilacan Island barangay captain Crispo Valeroso.
HOUSE BILL 608
The other bill, House Bill 608, is a different story that involves the Cabilao and Sandigan Islands in Loon and Pangangan Island in Calape, which are also all located in the 1st district of Bohol.
Chatto explained the following: “Lahi ang kaso sa House Bill 608, tungod kay involved niini ang mga daan nga alienable ug disposable lands. Sa Pamilacan, unlcassified gyud sya. So ang atong tuyo is i-paclassify as agricultural. Kining nahitabo sa mga isla sa Cabilao sa Loon, Sandigan sa Loon, ug gani apil ang Pangangan sa Calape–alienable and disposable ni. Pero, diha toy balaud, nga naghimo ug declaration sa NIPAS-National Integrated Protected Area System. Ang NIPAS, nag enumerate sa mga initial, wala pod nila maklaro ug survey ug unsay angay i-apil ug dili, pero pagkangan nga isla… Nasulod gani ka sa NIPAS, restricted ang gamit sa yuta tungod kay protected area siya. Daghan usab ang nagpuyo sa maong mga isla kay adunay mga barangay. Daghan ang mga barangay diha sa Cabilao, Sandigan ug Pangangan. Naa usab mga gihawiran nga mga titulo [ang mga residente didto] but the problem is that once madeclare ka sa NIPAS restricted naka sa pag own sa property. Tibook isla man ang gipang declare didto so apektado ang lihok sa mga tawo.”
The bill seeks to be classified under the NIPAS, and the areas where people can do whatever they want with their lots. The restriction has affected the development of the area and the economic growth of the islands.
“Ang tuyo niana, mga marelease, ma delineate, mamodify, ang mga areas nga i-consider as protected area,” the solon said in the interview.
Thus, Chatto said the House Bill 608 attempts to resolve a boiling issue as people want to have less restrictions on their lots now covered under the NIPAS.
Chatto is confident that the Senate will be able to grasp the wisdom of the bills and approve the measures on their end and put closure to the issues facing the lot ownership in the said areas in Bohol.