Boracay landowners holds rally on Proclamation 1064
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
Boracay – Landowners here staged a protest rally to oppose President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declaration of the island resort as “alienable and disposable land.”
Susan Trinidad, executive director of Boracay Foundation Inc (BFI), said the rally yesterday dubbed “This is our Land, Amin ang Boracay,” started at 4:30 p.m at Balabag Plaza after a parade of hundreds of landowners and residents in the beachfront starting at the Boracay Regency Beach Resort in Brgy. Balabag.
BFI, a group of business owners in the island, is strongly opposing the Proclamation 1064 issued by Arroyo upon the recommendation of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to classify portions of the 1,032 hectare island to provide security to the people of Boracay through the issuance of land titles and to protect the environment of the island famous for its powdery white sand beaches.
Trinidad said Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores, Malay mayor Ceciron Cawaling, church leaders and the local and national media graced the protest rally.
Under the proclamation, 628 hectares as disposable and alienable and the remaining areas in the island categorized as forest reserves, protected and swamps.
DENR said private lot ownership is illegal under Proclamation 1081 issued by the late Ferdinand Marcos in 1978 when he declared Boracay Island and other coves and islands as tourist and marine reserves and categorized as public lands.
But, Miraflores, in his privilege speech, said Proclamation 1064 is alarming and would be an injustice to local resort owners and long-time property residents once the sales option or auction of these properties is pursued.
“It is very clear that the provisions of Public Land Act alone, the intention of the law is to sell underdeveloped agricultural land,” he added.
Miraflores stressed that, “although the government has the right to classify portions of public land, the primary right of a private individual who possessed and cultivated the land in good faith must be recognized and should not be prejudiced by after events.”
The solon also denounced the DENR for irresponsible pronouncements, saying, the properties in the island could only be sold under public auction.
“This situation is scaring away investors and provide more uncertainty to owners of lots in Boracay when the DENR claims the prized lots are ready for auction,” Miraflores pointed out.
Boracay – Landowners here staged a protest rally to oppose President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declaration of the island resort as “alienable and disposable land.”
Susan Trinidad, executive director of Boracay Foundation Inc (BFI), said the rally yesterday dubbed “This is our Land, Amin ang Boracay,” started at 4:30 p.m at Balabag Plaza after a parade of hundreds of landowners and residents in the beachfront starting at the Boracay Regency Beach Resort in Brgy. Balabag.
BFI, a group of business owners in the island, is strongly opposing the Proclamation 1064 issued by Arroyo upon the recommendation of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to classify portions of the 1,032 hectare island to provide security to the people of Boracay through the issuance of land titles and to protect the environment of the island famous for its powdery white sand beaches.
Trinidad said Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores, Malay mayor Ceciron Cawaling, church leaders and the local and national media graced the protest rally.
Under the proclamation, 628 hectares as disposable and alienable and the remaining areas in the island categorized as forest reserves, protected and swamps.
DENR said private lot ownership is illegal under Proclamation 1081 issued by the late Ferdinand Marcos in 1978 when he declared Boracay Island and other coves and islands as tourist and marine reserves and categorized as public lands.
But, Miraflores, in his privilege speech, said Proclamation 1064 is alarming and would be an injustice to local resort owners and long-time property residents once the sales option or auction of these properties is pursued.
“It is very clear that the provisions of Public Land Act alone, the intention of the law is to sell underdeveloped agricultural land,” he added.
Miraflores stressed that, “although the government has the right to classify portions of public land, the primary right of a private individual who possessed and cultivated the land in good faith must be recognized and should not be prejudiced by after events.”
The solon also denounced the DENR for irresponsible pronouncements, saying, the properties in the island could only be sold under public auction.
“This situation is scaring away investors and provide more uncertainty to owners of lots in Boracay when the DENR claims the prized lots are ready for auction,” Miraflores pointed out.
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