Saturday, August 30, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
THE development of the Camotes group of islands as tourism destination will come close to reality once the 14th Congress passes House Bill (HB) 1100.
HB 1100, which seeks to re-classify 60 percent of Camotes as alienable and disposable land, is now pending at the Senate for consideration, said Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano in a press conference last Monday.
Under HB 1100, the Camotes Lake covering 60 hectares and some 50 hectares of mangrove forests will remain protected.
Once HB1100 is passed into law, Durano said Camotes can then be “aggressively promoted” by the Department of Tourism to invite investors to help develop the area.
Camotes has been declared as a mangrove swamp forest reserve under Proclamation 2152 signed in 1981 by then President Marcos.
Foreign investors
Durano said there were several foreign investors who wanted to put up facilities in the Camotes Islands, but once they were informed that only tax declarations can be issued for the land they want to develop, they shy away.
“Tax declarations are not accepted by financial institutions for loan applications,” Durano said, adding that this is the same reason that even residents in Camotes have been reluctant to put up businesses that may support tourism in the area.
“The residents are all aware of the land situation. (But) once the Senate approves the bill, the residents can then apply for land titles based on the tax declaration they have,” he said.
Durano said basic infrastructure in Camotes is in place but he believes that more facilities need to be put up before the area becomes a tourist destination.
One of the problems, Durano pointed out, is the lack of facilities that can accommodate tourists.
He admitted that during the Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo, the local government in Camotes had difficulties accommodating participants.
Durano said the bill has specified how the whole island will be developed. It also maps out which areas will be developed for residential and commercial uses. (DME)
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