Pagudpud extends deadline vs illegal structures

A ZIP LINE being operated by Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center attracts tourists to Pagudpud in an area called Blue Lagoon. LEILANI ADRIANO/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

LAOAG CITY—Officials of Pagudpud town in Ilocos Norte province have extended until next week its deadline for resort owners in Barangay Balaoi to remove cottages and other structures standing on the town’s foreshore areas.

Many resorts are allowed to occupy foreshore areas but only when they are issued permits by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Foreshore areas are portions of the beach inundated by high tide, which occasionally serve as breeding, spawning or nesting areas for marine life, and are therefore protected by environmental laws.

Tourism stakeholders in Pagudpud agreed in a Jan. 10 dialogue to remove unlicensed structures along the Pagudpud foreshore until Jan. 31, said Mayor Marlon Sales.

But because the deadline fell on a holiday, Sales said he extended it until next week.

Jose Morata, municipal environment and natural resources officer, said several cottages had been removed but some resort owners refused to comply with the order because they maintained that the structures stood on their private property.

The resort owners appealed to the local government to review the municipal zoning ordinance so they could clearly identify property boundaries.

“As much as possible, we wouldn’t want to resort to the forced demolitions [of these structures] so we are hoping that our tourism stakeholders will cooperate with us and comply with environmental laws, rules and regulations,” Sales said.

On Jan. 14, the Ilocos Norte provincial environment and natural resources office formed a team to inspect a creek and the coastline surrounding Maira-ira Cove, popularly known as Blue Lagoon, in Barangay Balaoi where wastewater from resorts in the area is allegedly discharged.

The team also examined the documents and design of the concrete foundation of a resort zip line there.

Among the resorts in the area are Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center, which is owned by retired military officer Ricardo Nolasco Jr., Agua Seda Beach Resort, Kapuluan Vista Resort and Punta Azul Beach Resort.

Presidential Decree No. 1067, or the Water Code of the Philippines, prohibits the building of any structure on the banks of rivers and shores of lakes or seas.

Article 51 of PD 1067 says the banks of rivers and streams and the shores of seas and lakes “throughout their entire length and within a zone of 3 meters in urban areas, 20 meters in agricultural areas and 40 meters in forest areas  along their margins are subject to the easement of public use in the interest of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and salvage.”

“No person shall be allowed to stay in this zone longer than what is necessary for recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing or salvage, or to build structures of any kind,” it says.

Juan de los Reyes, provincial environment and natural resources officer, said local officials were working to preserve Pagudpud’s natural attraction.

“It is very important that we consider the carrying capacity of [Pagudpud] and put in place [all safeguards] by fast-tracking Pagudpud’s tourism development plan, including the clearing of our foreshore areas,” De los Reyes said.

He said the government issued a permit for the use of the foreshore area in Barangay Balaoi five years ago but this had since expired.

“Tourists come here because of our clean and healthy environment. We generate income and have jobs because of it. We must conserve it and comply with environment laws, rules and regulations,” Sales said.

The Pagudpud government has designed a wastewater treatment plant and sewage system for the resorts operating there, he added.

“Blue Lagoon is just a small cove and it gets easily polluted,”  Sales said.

“It’s a good thing that we ensure a healthy environment. Tourists come here because of our pristine beaches. If it gets dirty, no one will want to come here anymore,” said Mike Oida, owner of Kapuluan Vista Resort.  Leilanie Adriano, Inquirer Northern Luzon