ILOILO – The municipal government of Miag-ao is seeking greater authority from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to stop the proliferation of unauthorized structures threatening the rapidly growing Little Baguio and Tinagong Dagat eco-tourism destinations.
The local government remains powerless at present to fully regulate activities because the sites are government-owned properties under the DENR’s jurisdiction.
“Some claim that the land belongs to them, but when authorities ask for surveys and supporting documents, those claims often cannot be substantiated. We are requesting them to clear the area,” said Mayor Richard Garin.
Little Baguio and Tinagong Dagat have emerged as two of Miag-ao’s fastest-growing eco-tourism destinations, attracting visitors with their cool climate, mountain scenery, and panoramic landscapes, while prompting local officials to intensify efforts to protect the area’s environmental integrity.
“But we have limitations when it comes to protecting the area because the tourist destination is government-owned property. The local government only helps in its administration, we do not have enough authority to fully regulate it. That power belongs to the DENR,” said Garin.
Instead of immediately resorting to demolition, the municipal government is encouraging voluntary compliance among those occupying the areas.
“We do not want trouble. We simply want our people to understand. We are asking them to remove the structures themselves because they were the ones who built them. If citizens expect their rights to be protected, then the rights of the government should also be respected,” Garin said.
Portions of Little Baguio are classified as forest land and are considered inalienable public land under DENR management, making private ownership applications generally prohibited.
The municipality is pushing for a formal memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DENR that would empower the local government to manage, administer, and enforce environmental and tourism regulations in the area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the national government.
While the municipality can provide police assistance and support enforcement efforts, Garin said stronger coordination with the DENR is necessary to effectively protect the tourism site from encroachment and illegal activities.
“If the DENR can provide stronger guidance and work closely with us, we can help protect the area,” he added. “We can fully impose the rules, the laws, and all our tourism-related regulations if we are given that authority.”
Similar challenges are also being experienced in upland areas stretching toward the municipalities of Igbaras and Tubungan, as well as portions of Antique, where unauthorized structures can quickly appear if monitoring is insufficient.
“Sometimes, if you do not visit an area for just one week, you will see new structures or makeshift establishments already being built,” Garin said./PN
