Republic of the Philippines
PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(R.A. 7611)
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
PCSD RESOLUTION NO. 09-387
“RESOLUTION STRONGLY RECOMMENDING HOUSE BILL NO. 522 ENTITLED “AN ACT RECLASSIFYING ELEVEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIFTY TWO AND FOUR THIRTY FIVE (11,952.435) OF LAND LOCATED IN BARANGAYS BUNOG, IRAAN, PUNTA BAJA CAMPUNG ULAY AND RANSANG, OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF RIZAL. PROVINCE OF PALAWAN FROM TIMBERLAND TO ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE LAND“
WHEREAS, R.A. 7611, otherwise known as the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan, took effect on 19 June 1992, section 6 of which provides that the SEP shall serve as the framework to guide the government agencies concerned in the formulation of plans, programs and projects affecting the environment and natural resources of Palawan;
WHEREAS, Section 2 thereof declares the policy of the State to protect, develop and conserve its natural resources towards which, it shall assist and support the implementation of plans, programs and projects formulated to preserve and enhance the environment, and at the same time pursue the socioeconomic development goals of the country; that it shall support and promote the sustainable development goals for the provinces through proper conservation, utilization and development of natural resources to provide optimum yields on a continuing basis;
WHEREAS, this same law provides that the SEP shall have, as its general philosophy, the sustainable development of Palawan, which is the improvement in the quality of life of its people in the present and future generations through the use of complementary activities of development and conservation that protect life-support ecosystems and rehabilitate exploited areas to allow upcoming generations to sustain development growth;
WHEREAS, Section 7 of the same provides that the SEP shall establish, as its main strategy, a graded system of protection and development control over the whole of Palawan, including its tribal lands, forests, mines, agricultural areas, settlement areas, small islands, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and the surrounding sea, known as the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN), and which shall ensure the following: forest conservation and protection; protection of watersheds; preservation of biological diversity; protection of tribal people and the preservation of their culture; maintenance of maximum sustainable yield; protection of the rare and endangered species and their habitat; provision of areas for environmental and ecological research, education and training; and provision of areas for tourist and recreation;
WHEREAS, Section 16 thereof provides that the governance, implementation and policy direction of the SEP shall be exercised by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD);
WHEREAS, the Municipality of Rizal, having a total land area of 127, 116.033 hectares, is considered as the largest town in the province of Palawan. It lies between 117°12’34” – 117°05’24” longitude and 8°29’9.44″ – 9°07’40.68″ latitude and is bounded on the East by Brooke’s Point, on the South by Bataraza, on the North by Quezon and on the West by South China Sea;
WHEREAS, said municipality has eleven barangays, namely: Barangays Bunog, Campong Ulay, Candawaga, Canipaan, Culasian, Iraan, Latud, Panalingaan, Punta Baja, Ransang and Taburi. Barangay Ransang is considered the largest barangay with a total land area of 18,796.427 hectares constituting 14.44 percent of the totai municipal land area. Following are Barangay Campong Ulay with 14,488.012 (11.85 %) and Barangay Punta Baja, the Urban Core with 14,638.385 ( 9.62 %). Barangay Canipaan is the smallest barangay with 7,582.837 hectares comprising 6.24 percent of the total land area;
WHEREAS, Rizal was already teeming with migrants before it became a municipality. Its strategic location in the Southwestern part of the Province of Palawan attracted migrants from all-over Palawan and nearby provinces. However, the slow process of distribution of lands to its actual occupants and tillers had somewhat created a climate of uncertainty to its residents and dampened the growth of the town;
WHEREAS, in response to this problem, House Bill No. 522, otherwise known as “An act reclassifying eleven thousand nine hundred fifty two and four thirty five (11,952.435) of land located in barangays Bunog, Iraan, Punta Baja, Campung Ulay and Ransang, of the Municipality of Rizal, Province of Palawan from timberland to alienable and disposable land”, was proposed by Congressman Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra;
WHEREAS, Said House Bill is presented today during the regular meeting of this Council during which the issues and problems encountered for the Bill’s enactment have been duly considered;
WHEREAS, this Council seriously considers the intended purposes of the Bill such as, but not limited to, the following: 1) to harness the use of the proposed land to its full potential; 2) to contribute to the economic growth in general and increase agricultural areas allocated for the local populace who are coastal dependent inhabitants; and 3) to boost the process of land distribution to its actual occupants and tillers;
WHEREFORE, upon motion of Secretary Alfredo Abueg, duly seconded, this Council RESOLVES, as it is hereby resolved, TO STRONGLY RECOMMEND, as it is hereby strongly recommended, THE APPROVAL AND ENACTMENT OF HOUSE BILL NO. 522;
RESOLVED FINALLY, that the House Committee and Natural Resources be furnished a copy of this Resolution.
I hereby certify that the above-quoted Resolution has been duly approved and adopted by the PCSD on 29th day of May 2009 at Quezon City.
ROMEO B. DORADO Secretary |
APPROVED:
HON. MARIO JOEL T. REYES |