BORACAY ISLAND – Businessmen and landholders in Boracay Island on Wednesday welcomed the directive of President Macapagal-Arroyo for government agencies to dialogue with them on the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling on land ownership and titling on the island.

Loubelle Cann, president of the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI), said the dialogue would help allay apprehensions and clarify doubts and confusions on the impact of the Oct. 8 ruling of the High Court.

Mixed emotions

“Some of us here are confused, some are angry and some are distressed. We do not know the direction of land titling because of Proclamation 1064 and the Supreme Court decision,” Cann told the Inquirer at the sidelines of the Boracay Media Summit here.

Cann said the dialogue should be held soon so that the government and stakeholders can find a “win-win” solution.

Alienable

The Supreme Court declared the island as public land and that land occupants in Boracay have not acquired vested rights. It also upheld Presidential Proclamation 1064, issued by President Macapagal-Arroyo on May 22, 2006, which categorized more than half of the 1,000-hectare island as alienable and disposable.

The Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay) also welcomed the President’s directive.

“It would help ease the tensions among some land occupants and land owners. This will also put to rest questions,” said BCCI President Charles Uy in a telephone interview.

Uy said his group welcomed the Supreme Court ruling because it resolved “once and for all” the classification of the island.