RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE, TAGBILARAN CITY (CENRO-TAGBILARAN) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR) – BOHOL TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF MARIBOJOC, BOHOL FOR SPECIAL LAND USE TO HAVE THE 1.6 HECTARE OF LANDLOCKED MAGROVE VEGETATION RE-CLASSIFIED FROM TIMBERLAND TO ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE LAND FOR THE SAME TO BE USED FOR A PLANNED GOVERNMENT CENTER PROJECT UNDER THE OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSES BASIS.

Authored by : Hon. Fructuoso F. Redulla, Jr.
Co-Authored by: Hon Gualberto R. Melecio
Hon. Gumersindo M. Arocha

Sponsored by: MASS MOTION

WHEREAS, on July 12, 2007, the Municipality of Maribojoc, Bohol thru the Hon. Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr., Municipal Mayor, wrote a letter to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Bohol requesting said agency for a reversion of a 1.6-hectare of a landlocked mangrove vegetation from the category of Timberland to Alienable and Disposable Land, for the planned government center of the municipality;

WHEREAS, the CENRO respectfully and regretfully informed us that they cannot act on our request citing Section 4 (a) of Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) which prohibits further classification / reclassification of public lands;

WHEREAS, the local officials of Maribojoc, Bohol, not wanting to lose focus on its dream of establishing a government center to centralize its operations to render better and efficient service to its constituents, sought advice on how to find ways and means with which it can pursue its intention to have the area reclassified into A and D land and, thus now anchor its pursuit for Special Land Use on the basis of “Other Lawful Purposes”;

WHEREAS, we have secured and complied all the requirements necessary for the approval of our application for Special Land Use under Other Lawful Purposes, hoping that this may strengthen and bolster our position to have the said 1.6-hectare of landlocked mangrove vegetation converted or reclassified from Timberland to Alienable and Disposable Land;

WHEREAS, we are confident that this request be given special consideration inasmuch as said mangrove vegetation has been landlocked – it being separated from the open sea by the national highway – and thus effectively making such mangrove vegetation a non-factor in the marine ecosystem;

WHEREAS, once this request is granted and work on the planned government center gets started, pro-environmentalist groups and individuals are rest-assured that the Local Government of Maribojoc, Bohol will never reclaim the entire area but instead will try, as much as possible, to retain its original physical landscape by constructing and erecting only driveways, walkways, pathways and boardwalks that would connect the government center edifice from the national highway thus projecting an engineering marvel of a government center surrounded by packets of mangrove forests which hopefully would become an attraction for both local and foreign visitors;

WHEREAS, to show our sincerity in keeping the balance and preservation of Mother Nature, the Local Government of Maribojoc, Bohol has already reforested and planted more than three (3) hectares of different mangrove species along its shorelines to cushion the impact, if ever there should be any, on the perceived collateral damage that may be caused on some of the mangrove trees that must be felled in the course of the construction of the government center;

WHEREAS, it might also interest the DENR and other interest groups that the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council and the NGO component of the Municipal Development Council have already given their imprimatur on said project after having been thoroughly convinced of the feasibility of such project using eco-friendly technology;

WHEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved by the Sangguniang Bayan of Maribojoc, Bohol, in its session duly assembled, to request the CENRO, Tagbilaran City, of the DENR-Bohol to approve the application of the Municipal Government of Maribojoc, Bohol for Special Land Use to have the 1.6-hectare of landlocked mangrove vegetation re-classified from Timberland to Alienable and Disposable Land for the same to be used for a planned government center project under the Other Lawful Purposes basis;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copies of this resolution be furnished the offices of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of DENR-Bohol for their endorsement, the Hon. Leonardo R. Sibbaluca, OIC-Regional Executive Director of DENR-7 for his approval and the Hon. Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. for his information and corresponding action.

Unanimously adopted.

I HEREBY CERTIFY TO THE CORRECTNESS
OF THE ABOVE QUOTED RESOLUTION:

ERLINDA V. CASTILLON
Acting Secretary to the Sangggunian

ATTESTED:

ENGR. GABINO C. REDULLA
Municipal Vice Mayor
Presiding Officer