BORACAY Island – The Department of Natural Resources (DENR) will not allow foreigners to completely own parcels of land in this island resort even if they have investments here.
Lourdes Wagan, Forest Land Use Division chief, said the DENR has been tasked to supervise and ensure the environmental sustainability of this island.
The Supreme Court has declared this island is a forest land while some parts of it could be alienable or disposed to those who want to own lands.
During a recent meeting with officers and members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Wagan discussed the Special Forest Land use for Tourism Purposes (FlagT) program of the DENR.
Wagan said that since Boracay Island is owned by the state, its original inhabitants should be provided equal opportunity to own parcels of land.
Wagan said they are strengthening the features of FlagT in accordance with the different concerns raised by the land owners, especially for those who have stayed in Boracay for more than 30 years.
“Boracay Island is a special case for the DENR because it is only the resort island that is entirely owned by the government,” she said.
Wagan said investors in the island must steward or take care the area where tourism structures stand.
For areas that have no existing structure, DENR will be strict in allowing land owners to build additional buildings.
“Instead, the area would be reserved for either planting of vegetation and trees to keep the environment of Boracay,” she added. Boracay Island is filled with high-end hotels managed if not owned by foreigners. Most of these investors are Koreans while others are Europeans and Americans.
No comments:
Post a Comment