BY EDGAR J. TAMAYO
[ Manila Bulletin Online ] November 24, 2008
MASBATE CITY – The Sangguniang Panglungsod here yesterday sought the immediate reduction of reclamation fees imposed by the Philippine Reclamation Authority and a moratorium on the issuance of reclamation permits, saying the fees are excessive and counter-productive.
City Vice Mayor Alan B. Cos said the council passed a resolution formally appealing to PRA for a moratorium in the grant of permits until after the reclamation fees are reasonably reduced from a minimum of P150,000 to more affordable levels.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan also passed a similar measure requesting the PRA and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to consider the problem faced by applicants for reclamation development.
Many residents and potential entrepreneurs have reportedly expressed desire to reclaim foreshore lands or portions of the sea in Ibingay, Bantigue and other coastal barangays, but the high fees charged by PRA had discouraged them to do so.
"PRA should relax their fees and stop imposing hard and fast rules, if they want to help local government units implement their local development programs," said Cos and senior board member Jamon J. Espares.
Cos pointed out that those who wanted to reclaim public land are potential investors who could help provide income and employment to jobless residents and help raise revenues for development projects.
"Better still, PRA should also scrap its stringent requirement that private reclamation developers set aside 30 percent of reclaimed area to PRA’s private use being ‘highly unjust and unfair’," the vice mayor stressed.
"This requirement, compounded by the high reclamation fee, appears to be a death knell for development itself, since they kill the initiative of private entrepreneurs," Cos stressed.
Presidential Decree No. 1084 designates the PRA as the sole regulatory agency with full authority to approve reclamation projects.
PRA chairman Ramon Revilla, Sr., was reported to have thanked LGUs for their cooperation in the registration and monitoring of more than 600 reclamation sites nationwide. About 70 percent of LGUs are complying with the penalties and fees due them, said the report.
