Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Consolidation of 5 Cebu watersheds now awaits President’s signature
THE sponsored bill of Rep. Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas that consolidates Cebu’s five watersheds into one protected area now awaits the signature of President Arroyo.
In a press conference, Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) yesterday announced that the bicameral committee on natural resources already approved both the House and Senate versions of the bill last Wednesday with only minor amendments.
Gullas described the approval of House Bill 4862 and Senate Bill 2532 as smooth and fast, which came a day before Congress went on a break for the May elections’ campaign period.
Once the President signs it into a law, the measure will be known as the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) Act of 2007.
Protected area
It declares the Buhisan watershed, the Mananga and Kotkot-Lusaran forest reserves and the Central Cebu and Sudlon national parks into one protected area.
These protected areas, covering 28,452 hectares, have been identified as among the world’s environmental and ecological hotspots, as they are home to endemic species of plants and fauna.
“It (the law) will protect, conserve, maintain and rehabilitate its (protected area) natural and physical attributes and ensure sufficient water supply for the Cebuanos and the future generations,” said Gullas.
The Cebuano legislator said the CCPL’s area covers the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Danao and Toledo and the towns of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Balamban.
The minor amendment of the bill was the exclusion of about 386 hectares of vegetable farm in Barangay Cabadiangan, Compostela.
But the bill still declares it as a buffer zone, which is defined as “an identified area outside the boundaries of and immediately adjacent to designated protected areas.”
The buffer zone must have special development control to avoid or minimize harm to the declared protected area, it added.
The bill also mentioned 400 hectares in Barangay Cabdiangan, Liloan town as another buffer zone but only if actual ground shows that its slope is 18 degrees or less or otherwise it will be considered as part of the CCPL.
The CCPL will be placed under the management of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape-Protected Area Management Board, a policy-making body.
The mayors and district representatives from these localities must be management board members, who will also choose the members of a 17-member executive committee.
Tenants
Gullas reiterated that individuals considered as tenured tenants will not be displaced.
Tenured tenants are those who have been living in the protected area at least five years before June 1, 1992, the cut-off date set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
These tenants must police their own ranks to preserve the watersheds.
Gullas told reporters that Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was his inspiration when he filed his bill on Jan. 19, 2005.
The prelate reportedly initiated a series of multi-sectoral meetings that tackled Cebu’s dwindling water supply, over-extraction of aquifers and saltwater intrusion.
As his way of thanking Vidal, Gullas personally handed over to him copies of the approved bill at the Archbishop Palace after the congressman’s noontime press conference yesterday.
He also thanked Sen. Sergio Osmeńa III, Cebuano Reps. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north), Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south), Antonio Yapha (Cebu, 3rd district) and other personalities and organizations for supporting his bill. (GC)
