Tuesday, October 10, 2006 Communal forest folks told to show prior rights v. eviction
AMID moves by the Municipal Government of La Trinidad to petition the cancellation of all tax declarations and land titles within its communal forests, Environment Regional Director Samuel Peñafiel on Monday advised affected property holders to ready the documents that could spare them from eviction.
Peñafiel said property owners in areas declared as forest reservations could still possess their properties but they must be able to show documents of ownership prior to the declaration.
"They have to first show that they own the land they occupy before a forest is declared a reservation. They have to prove their prior rights," he stressed.
In cases where occupants fail to present proof of prior rights to the lots they occupy, Peñafiel said the government has no recourse but to file for cancellation of their tax declarations or land titles. "It is a policy that no titles or tax declarations should be issued in areas covered by forest lands. We only issue titles from alienable and disposable lands," he said.
The Municipal Government already manifested plans to file for the cancellation of all approved plans found within the town's forest reservations.
La Trinidad has four public forests and one watershed, which the town is protecting from illegal occupants. Relocation surveys of these reservations are being implemented.
The Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. is working with the local government for the protection and preservation of the communal forests and watershed. (JC)
(October 10, 2006 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
