Castro: Powerful people own houses, resorts in Marikina watershed

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro

MANILA, Philippines — “Powerful individuals and generals” allegedly own houses, resorts, and other commercial establishments in the Upper Marikina watershed, according to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro.

During the House committee on appropriations’ deliberations on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) proposed budget, Castro said she had observed large private land claims in the Upper Marikina watershed when she visited the area.

READ: 510 businesses are in protected Marikina watershed, show cause orders out – DENR

“Ang tinatanong ko ang mga naitayong resort, ang lalaki po niyan. Nagpunta ako sa lugar na ‘yan, makikita natin ang daming resorts, pagmamay-ari ng mga powerful individuals, may mga general pa dyan, na nandito sa protected watershed,” the lawmaker said.

(I’m asking about the big resorts there. I went to the area, and we immediately saw many resorts. Powerful individuals, including generals, own these properties in the protected watershed.)

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Castro said among these generals is a former Philippine National Police (PNP) official, along with other influential individuals allegedly “close” to the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

INQUIRER.net sought the side of the PNP but it has yet to reply as of posting time.

Castro also asked about the results of the DENR’s inspections in the protected area.

“Parang walang nangyari sa mga ginawa nilang inspection, kasi gusto natin malaman ilan ang mga ito at na-identify ba natin yung legitamacy ng bawat claim based sa existing laws,” Castro said.

(It seems like nothing happened with their inspection. We want to know how many structures are there and if these have legitimacy based on existing laws.)

The DENR did not directly address Castro’s claims on the owners of the structures, but Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga assured lawmakers that the agency would submit a copy of the protected area’s map and inventory.

DENR Calabarzon Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria disclosed that they already issued 540 show-cause orders against resorts and structures encroaching within the protected area.

Of this figure, 47 graduated into cease and desist orders, and 10 were filed in court.

Tamoria explained that of the 540 show cause orders, some have legitimate claims covered by proclamations and dispositions.

Castro questioned it. She explained that under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018, “only tenured migrants, indigenous people, and those in need” can own lands within the protected area.

“Land use change is the major cause of deforestation of these protected areas,” Castro said.

“The buying and selling of rights in these protected areas should be addressed and passively removed by the government to enable genuine restoration of the watersheds,” she added.

Loyzaga, however, pointed out that some lands enrolled in the ENIPAS as legislated protected areas have prior rights given to “other individuals or groups.”

“And so our hope is a review of the ENIPAS legislation process of protected areas, including the investigation prior rights and classification of land in the future,” she added.