PETITION-LETTER

The conduct of land use plan is paramount or dominant for proper disposition of land and water as this is mandated to the LGU. To adopt the said comprehensive land and water use plan (CLWUP) must be in consonant or in agreement with the will and welfare of the people. It is the LGU who must determine what land must be provided for institutions like schools, hospitals etc. including gov't centers, barangay, municipal, provincial and national offices which likewise include commercial residential areas. Cadastral survey should conform with zoning of land which provides for policies and guidelines. Unless these are well participated in by general public and stakeholders, cadastral survey will be baseless and premature if not suspicious to implement. Claim of land for individual ownership will thus be subjective and neglect public, and the people should be inform properly in truth as the LGU is duty bound to adhere to the principle of government of the people, for the people, by the people.




A PETITION-LETTER TO THE HONORABLE LITO ATIENZA, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR)


WE, THE UNDERSIGNED LOCAL OFFICIALS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CULION, PROVINCE OF PALAWAN MOST RESPECTFULLY AND EARNESTLY PETITION THE HONORABLE LITO ATIENZA, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR) TO IMMEDIATELY HOLD IN ABEYANCE THE ONGOING CONDUCT OF CADASTRAL SURVEY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CULION, PROVINCE OF PALAWAN PENDING EXHAUSTIVE PUBLIC CONSULATIONS AND THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND & WATER USE PLAN OF CULION, PALAWAN AND ITS IMPLEMENTING ZONING ORDINANCE BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN OF PALAWAN IN THE LIGHT OF THE FOLLOWING RATIONALIZATIONS, TO WIT:

WHEREAS, Task Force Culion, an inter-agency body, was created to provide plans and policy direction regarding the implementation of Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9032 and to recommend land disposition guidelines to be promulgated and implemented in the Municipality of Culion;

WHEREAS, the Municipality of Culion through its Sangguniang Bayan and concerned committees is mandated to formulate a comprehensive land and water use plan (CLWUP) and zoning ordinance (ZO) which shall determine policy guidelines, rules and regulations that shall ensure the maximum and best utilization of land and water resources of Culion;

WHEREAS, CLWUP and ZO require public participation through consultation, hearings, and information campaigns prior to their adoption and approval by the provincial government;

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Bayan in its formulation of the ZO which shall implement the CLWUP failed to inform the people prior to its adoption;

WHEREAS, the provincial government of Palawan has yet to review and approve the ZO of the Municipality of Culion;

WHEREAS, the public has the right to be informed by the municipal government of its formulated CLWUP & ZO;

WHEREAS, the DENR through the CENRO-Coron will now commence the conduct of cadastral survey upon the request of the municipal government of Culion pending the approval of the CLWUP & ZO and proper public consultation and information;

WHEREAS, the LGU fails to abide with Section 5 of R.A. 9032 which provides that within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the municipal government of Culion, in coordination with the DENR, DOH, DAR, Representative of the First Congressional District of Palawan, the Province of Palawan, and the PCSD, shall determine the areas which shall remain with the DOH, belong to the public domain, be alienable and disposable, become the property of the Municipality of Culion, become the property of the Province of Palawan.

WHEREAS, present land claims in Culion is only based upon the previous rights accorded by the DOH without any legal basis for homestead, stewardship, or probable miscellaneous sale or free patent which are DENR's instrument in granting land ownership to titles; Highly hoping and praying that he petition aforementioned be urgently given due course of action by your good office. Hearing from you soonest in this regard will be profoundly appreciated.


we are opposing the conduct of the "Cadastral Survey" on the ground that the people have not been properly informed of what is going to happen and that there is strong suspicion that land grabbers headed by the reigning local administration officials are out to steal the peoples' future the LGU administration has failed to explain (or purposely denied information) to the people what is happening so that lands will be claimed by the land grabbers..

Best regards and more power!

AT CULION, PALAWAN THIS 20TH OF OCTOBER, 2009.


VERY GRATEFULLY YOURS,


1. John Nono Lisboa
publicis graphics
Salmiya, Kuwait

2. Wilmer N. Naceno
Test Coordinator
Asian Psychological Services & Assessment Inc
2657 Bautista Street,
Malate, Manila

3. JOSEPH JOEL CABUGON,MT(AMT)
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Singapore

4. Mary Ann P. Sapad
Puerto Princesa Palawan Phil.

5. ELEAZAR FABIAN T. LUNASCO
Al Abdullatif Industrial Investment Company
+966 1 2658888 - Tel
+966 1 2659988 - Fax
+966 55 0739949 - Mob
P.O. Box 859
Riyadh 11421
Saudi Arabia

6. CARLO BUNADO
WEST AFRICA, HONGKONG

7. Cynthia Marquez-Evangelista
New York University Langone Medical Center
New York, New York USA

8. ALLAN S. FAMI
KOMBATAN CULION-Chief Instructor
Lakan Pito -IPMAF-Kombatan

9. MARJOE M. MANATAD

10. Humphrey James B.. Natividad, CE, MSME
COST CONTROL ENGINEER
Engineering Contracting Company L.L.C.

J320 Smart Heights Project - DAMAC
TECOM Dubai U.A.E.
P.O. Box 62393 Dubai - U.A.E.
Tel.: +971 (04) 361-8683
Fax: +971 (04) 361-8783
Mobile : +971 (050) 93-45-45-8
eMail: hjnatividad@yahoo.com.ph
Website: http://www.eccdubai.com/

11. Rene Yala
Suema Viaggi
Milan Italy

12. Karen Fami
13. Cyril Payong
14. Arlene Joyce Payong

15. Francisco M. Calivo
16. Nancy Mae Lisboa
17. Megan L. Calivo
18. Raphael Velasco
Riyadh Saudi Arabia


...

(on the issue of suspected land grabbing and its true share)

Comprehensive land and water use plan (CLWUP) and zoning ordinance (ZO) ARE IMPORTANT for future dev't to prosper and promote the welfare of the people of Culion so everybody will benefit and have its own share on this proper planning.. For those people who sacrificed their lives and their time, talents & services to Culion. We need to prioritize this people. Including the old settlers like the 'cuyonon' or those who've been staying in Culion for long time and helped developed the place, their own piece of land in 'destino' especially for their children. Except for those who already sell their lot that doesn't belong to land category A & D.

Most specially to consider the former patients, their family & children who has been brought to Culion and died or succumb to the disease & stigma. Their family and children who because of their parents illness were forced to live there especially those who are staying in small and dangerous areas and places...

We intend (PETITION) to reserve LOTS FOR THIS PEOPLE. Also considering others who have none, including the "IP's" or the 'tangays'. We need to give them some kind of resettlement as we can see how they've been displaced of their own original territories and preserve this places for them. We need to give criteria who should have their due lot like housing programs and the like, for the present - short & midterm plan of Culion.

So hoping that we could also get support of culionaires abroad. And if ever our land and water use plan may consider providing even small home-lot for those father, mother or grandparents who had served in Culion. The family or siblings may have place there as a token of gratitude. They have contributed for the good of our beloved town. Strange that strangers who became powerful and have money are the only one who will benefit for the sacrifices of our forefathers in helping this great place we call now Isla Culion.

And as for the PITOGO especially its ordinance, practically we won already it's just the areas of preservation that should be define properly as the present admins were trying to distort the ordinance and the whole area that should be preserve. HINDI LAMANG KAPIRANGGOT.. using this pitogo for their cadastral survey advantages of titling the lands so our suspicion that they only want to claim their lots near the places. This is our continued vigilance to protect and preserve our heritage and identity.