ALAMINOS CITY?Environmental advocates in Pangasinan are opposing a bill in the House of Representatives that would split and reclassify the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) here, saying the move is ?a grave threat to the country?s ecobiodiversity and an assault to our cultural heritage.?

Authored by Pangasinan Rep. Arthur Celeste, House Bill No. 4995 proposes to divide and declare one of the biggest islands within the HINP as alienable and disposable and allow it to be used for residential, commercial and industrial purposes.

Once approved, the bill will supersede the 69-year-old Presidential Proclamation No. 667, which designates the HINP as a reservation site and makes it a protected area.

?The Hundred Islands was declared as a reservation for a reason. It is a wildlife sanctuary and breeding ground for a variety of marine species,? said Jonathan Ronquillo, environment campaigner of the La Liga Policy Institute (LLPI), in a statement.

The LLPI, according to its website (www.laligapilipinas.
org), has been providing technical support to the Alaminos City government.

Mayor Hernani Braganza commissioned LLPI to help form economic partnership alliances between local governments in the first district of Pangasinan and provide technical assistance to develop strategic local economic development plans.

Ronquillo said the Hundred Islands spawn ecotourism that benefits not only the local government and communities near it but also local and foreign tourists who are able to enjoy the islands? white beaches, dive spots and caves.

The Inquirer tried to reach Celeste on Friday for comments but he did not answer calls and text messages.

Corazon Davis, DENR Ilocos director, said she has yet to see Celeste?s proposed law.

?HINP is a protected area, and we have to find out first the reasons why Celeste wants to declare a part of the park as alienable and disposable. We have to see if the reasons would justify the declaration as commercial and residential area,? Davis said in a telephone interview.

Ronquillo said the HINP is part of a network of protected areas in the country that helps preserve the Philippines? biodiversity.

?As it is, government is already providing very minimal support to the many protected areas in the country. The Celeste proposal to ?chop-chop? the Hundred Islands is a great disservice to the citizens of Alaminos City and Pangasinan and to the environment as well,? he said. Yolanda Sotelo and Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon