1 thousand structures in Bantayan encroach on easement zone

CEBU, Philippines —  The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Cebu City has identified 1,100 structures that are encroaching on the easement zone along the foreshore of Bantayan Island in Cebu.

CENRO Cebu City head Raul Pasoc said at least 22 encroaching structures were identified in Santa Fe town; more than 740 in Bantayan town; and another over 400 structures in Madridejos town. Bantayan Island, lying above Cebu mainland, is composed of these three towns.

Pasoc said he already issued notice of violation to the owners to give them leeway to remove on their own the part of their structure that has gone beyond the demarcation line.

He said all structures that are marked with notices will have to be demolished so as to restore the standard easement.

Pasoc said in Santa Fe town, most of the violators are beach resorts and hotels and only one owner heeded their warning and cleared the easement area.

In Bantayan and Madridejos, he said coastal violators are not only commercial establishments or resorts but also include houses or residences.

What is distinct in Sante Fe is that the court has declared a continuing mandamus in the town. CENRO-Cebu City was asked to identify the violators and submit them to the court, which will then issue the demolition order.

Pasoc said he already coursed through the report to its head office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (Region 7).

CENRO-Cebu City is a substation of the DENR-Region 7 that holds jurisdiction from Cebu City to the northern tip of the province. The southern part, on the other hand, is supervised by CENRO-Argao substation.

As to the demolition, Pasoc said this task is supposedly to be enforced by the local government unit but it is still up to the court to identify which agency will be tasked to execute the order.

DENR-Region 7 has intensified its crackdown against environmental violators encroaching beyond the easement zones along the coast in the region following the closure of Boracay Island in Aklan.

The agency has extended its efforts in Bantayan Island, also a tourist destination site, other than Mactan Island and Panglao in Bohol. —   MBG (FREEMAN)