GUIMARAS – Concerned authorities should look into the alleged illegal selling and buying of lands in this island province.
This is reportedly becoming rampant, according to Nueva Valencia’s Mayor Emmanuel Galila.
He and four other mayors in this province – Eugenio Reyes (Buenavista), Ruben Corpuz (Jordan), Annabelle Samaniego (Sibunag), and Niña Gajo (San Lorenzo) – came out with a resolution rattling the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) to conduct an investigation.
Owners, developers, operators or sellers of subdivision projects have not secured the necessary clearances and permits from local government units prior to commencing their land development projects, according to the mayors.
“The lands being developed are not even classified as residential but agricultural. Thus these activities violate the provisions of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 957 (Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protective Decree) as amended by PD 1216,” Galila told Panay News.
He added that the developers and sellers were subdividing lands into 200 square meters and would sell these at only P500 per square meter “para dasig ang baligya-anay.”
PUBLIC WARNING
As the lands are not yet converted into residential ones, the mayors warned not only Guimarasnons but also people from the neighboring province of Iloilo and Iloilo City not to be easily enticed by these offers.
For his part, Reyes said around 30 subdivisions are being developed in the province of which almost one-third are in Buenavista.
“To convert the lots into residential, the sellers or developers must undergo proper processes that include a resolution from the Sangguniang Bayan,” Reyes told Panay News.
They must also secure a mayor’s permit and make sure the lots have been inspected by the zoning office prior to conversion.
“They are selling the lots without development like concrete roads and drainage so how can they acquire electricity?” Reyes asked. “To have electricity they have to get a permit from the zoning office.”
“We are hoping the DENR and HLURB will act on this issue now,” the mayor added.
The land-selling and land-buying spree in Guimaras is believed to have been triggered by the government’s plan to build a bridge connecting Iloilo to the island province.
The bridge is seen to allow easier access and open a network of more convenient transportation linkage that can transform the flow of people, goods and services between Panay Island and Guimaras./PN
