PROGRESS REPORT

[Updated: May 6, 2015]

PROJECT TITLE
: Disestablishing Bantayan Island Wilderness Area
(BIWA) and reclassifying the land classification of the whole Bantayan Island
from Wilderness Area into Alienable and Disposable Land
ACTIVITY CONDUCTED

: Updating the Existing Land Use Map thru GIS

PERIOD

: February May 2015

PROJECT SUMMARY:
It cannot be argued that the Island of Bantayan located at the Visayan Sea in
the province of Cebu is one of the richest in terms of marine biodiversity being
situated at the fish basket of the Philippines. Bantayan Island has a total land area
of 11, 244.68 hectares with an estimated population of 74, 717 individuals (2013
data). It has a coastal area of 79.20 km covering three Municipalities namely: Sta.
Fe, Bantayan, and Madridejos. Out of the total land area, 82.9% is generally with
flat slope (0-3% slope gradient) composed of four soil types.
On August 22, 1979, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued the Letter of
Instructions No. 917 (LOI 917) to the Minister of Natural Resources (MNR) to close
certain portions of the public domain from commercial exploitation and be
proclaimed as Wilderness Areas to protect the mangrove forests and other
exclusive habitats of rare and endangered species. Two years after, he signed
Presidential Proclamation No. 2151 (P.P. 2151) dated December 21, 1981
declaring certain portions of the country as wilderness area however, subject to
future actual ground delineation covering a total aggregate area of 4, 326
hectares.
Among the areas which were declared as areas for wilderness was the Bantayan
Island. Many attempts were undertaken to conduct its delineation however
strong oppositions coming from the different sectors and stakeholders were
encountered against the delineation activity. In 1992 when the National
Integrated Protected Areas System Act (R.A. 7586) was enacted, all initially
proclaimed protected areas were included in the NIPAS including the whole of
Bantayan Island instead of its mangrove areas only. Pursuant to Rule 10.3 of DAO
2008-26 otherwise known as the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of
the NIPAS Act, each protected area shall be divided into two management zones
namely the strict protection zone (SPZ) and the multiple use zone (MUZ).
Bantayan Island being a protected area (PA) strictly adheres to the laws, rules
and regulations set by the government for PAs. With its increasing population and
growing economic development, the people of Bantayan face serious
constraints particularly on matters regarding land ownership and disposition,
allowable economic activities and housing relocation to the typhoon Yolanda
victims because of the prohibitions and limitations set in the NIPAS Act. At present,
the DENR-7 has completed the management zoning of the Bantayan Island
Wilderness Area (BIWA) with the mangrove swamp areas (472.76 has), water-

recharge areas (83.39 has) and potential turtle nesting sites (to be validated)
identified under the strict protection zone while the remaining land area placed
under the multiple use zone including the areas proposed for reversion to
alienable and disposable land (10,648.27 has).
Through the efforts of Congressman Benhur Salimbangon of the 4th District of
Cebu province, House Bill No. 1941 was passed (now at the third and final hearing)
to the Congress disestablishing BIWA and reclassifying the land classification of
the whole Bantayan Island from wilderness area into alienable and disposable
land. However, the management zoning of the three municipalities incorporated
in their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP) are out of date.
Therefore this is formulated to address the foreseen issue on management zoning.
The main objective of this project is to harmonize the management zoning
created under the NIPAS and the management zoning under the CLUP of the
three LGUs. This will involve planning and further zonation (sub-zoning) of the MUZs
identified as areas proposed for reversion to A&D to prepare the island upon
approval of its disestablishment.

WORK PROGRESS:
[ Update ]
Due to the lack of support from the concerned LGU, we had a hard time doing
the field survey during the past weeks. As of this date, we have surveyed the
three (3) barangays (Brgy. Suba, Brgy. Binaobao and Brgy. Ticad).
Just yesterday (May 5, 2015), Ms. Ethereal Diaz, MPDC of Bantayan, just
committed that their LGU can provide foods and accommodation to us during
the field survey. We are keeping our fingers crossed that this project will finish on
or before the deadline.
We started the project in the Municipality of Bantayan on the first week of
February and finished updating the land use map of the two (2) barangays (i.e,
Brgy. Suba and Brgy. Binaobao). After a series of discussion and knowing that
the Office of the Mayor thru their Secretary, and the Municipal Planning Office
(MPDO) that their municipality expressed no interest in giving us proper
accommodation, we decided to prioritize those who are willing to support the
project. We moved to the Municipality of Madridejos. The mayor and the vicemayor committed to give us full support whatever they can provide in order for
the project to be done in time. Were having a tough time at first doing the
survey because of the budget constraint (i.e, food and travelling expenses).
Theres a time that we asked anything from the fishermen in order to complete a
days meal and sometimes our expenses for travelling is borrowed from our kind
officemates.
After weeks of doing the field work under the heat of the sun, we had finished all
the fourteen (14) barangays (Bunakan, Kangwayan, Kaongkod, Kodia, Maalat,
Malbago, Mancilang, Pili, Poblacion, San Agustin, Tabagak, Talangnan, Tarong,
Tugas) in the Municipality last April 10, 2015. We have identified and plot the

map through Geographic Information System (GIS) Application the Settlement /

Residential Area, Commercial / Economic Zones, Institutional Area, Agricultural
Area, Industrial Zones, Agro-Industrial Area and Buffer Zones.

ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT:

[Update]
If only the Municipality of Bantayan will keep their support for the project, and
we have enough GIS apparatus to use, this project will finish earlier than the set
deadline.
To date, the Municipality of Sta. Fe already updated their CLUP thru hiring
consultants, only the Municipality of Bantayan dont have theirs.
The project is very much essential to the concerned LGU for their economic
progress. Sometimes a political affiliation plays a hindrance in initiating the
activities. If only it will not exist we have conducted the whole project survey in
time and had a great and beneficial output for the LGU of the Province of
Cebu.
With all of these situation happening, we are still optimistic for the success of this
project.

Team Members
HILARIO J. BLANCO
FRANCIS B. MARABULAS
JOHN PAUL H. DINOPOL
SANY R. TIONGZON
GUY ELLISON T. ZOSA