Hopefully, this will be the last statement I will make as regards to the Tondaligan Park.

First of all, I did not deliver a privilege speech at the Sanggunian Panlungsod as regards the column of Gonzalo Duque. My reactions that were aired in the radio as an interview by media men while I was waiting for the Sanggunian members to arrive at the session hall to have a quorum.

The picture published in the Sunday Punch was a picture taken when I was reading my Letter to the Editor clarifying the accusations of Mr. Gonzalo Duque which also was not part of any Sanggunian Session. This was at the City Legal Office.

I will try to recall the best way I can on what transpired during my conversation with Gonzalo Duque on November 14, 2006.

Gonzalo: Anong nangyari sa Tondaligan Park?
Alvin: Wala naman nangyari sa Tondaligan Park, ang nagka problema ay sa accreted land sa Bonuan beach.
Gonzalo: Ano ang ginawa nyo?
Alvin: Nag imbestiga ang Sanggunian at nadiskubre na may mga mayayamang bisita na nagtayo ng bahay at resthouses nila doon dahil ayun sa kanila sila ang legal na may ari na sa lugar na yun dahil inapply nila yun sa DENR as Alienable and Disposable. Pero wag kayo mag alala dahil NAAYOS na ng syudad ang problema. Inapply na ng syudad lahat ng accreted portion sa bonuan beach sa DENR sa pamamagitan ng Miscellaneous Lease Application.
Gonzalo: Eh, anung mangyayari sa mga nagtayo ng bahay doon?
Alvin: As far as the city government is concerned sila ay illegal occupants. Planong tayuan ng city yung lugar na yun na gagawing Special Economic Zone na maglalagay ng Government Housing, Industrial Zone, IT centers at Tourist Destination.
Gonzalo: Paano sila papaalisin doon?
Alvin: Papadalahan sila ng sulat ng gobyerno pag naayos na. Tatayuan na ng Special Economic Zone yung lugar na yun at kailangan na nilang alisin mga structures nila.
Gonzalo: Paano kung ayaw nila umalis doon?
Alvin: As far as the City is concerned pag tatayuan na yung lugar na yun, they will have to remove their structures. The city will have no choice but to ensure na malinis yung lugar na tatayuan ng mga structures ng Special Economic Zones.
Gonzalo: Eh, anung mangyayari sa mga nagbenta ng lupa sa beach?
Alvin: Eh, di magdemandahan sila ng mga bumili at nagbenta sa korte. As far as the city is concerned inapply na yan ng city at na approve na. Inaantay na lang pirma ni Secretary Reyes. Ang syudad na ang legal na may hawak sa lugar na yun.
Gonzalo: Di ba idedemanda ng syudad yung mga nandun at mga nagbenta?
Alvin: Sa ngayon Ang tumutulong sa syudad para makuha ng legal ang mga lupa na yan ay ang CENRO at PENRO.
Gonzalo: I am not satisfied. Dapat demanda ng syudad mga yan.
Alvin: Sino idedemanda ng syudad, yung mga nag aasikaso at tumutulong sa syudad para makuha lahat ng accreted land? Eh kung yung mga illegal occupants na mayayaman, eh syudad na nga ang Legal na may hawak sa lahat ng accreted land sa beach eh. Kung may demandahan na mangyayari dyan sigurado ay yung mga bumili laban sa nagbenta.
Gonzalo: My opinion is different from your opinion. Pwede ba makahingi ng file ng Sanggunian paukol sa imbestigasyun na ginawa nyo.
Alvin: Walang problema, papa hanap ko sa records officer sulat ng fisherfolks at transcript ng inquiry ng Sanggunian sa CENRO. Pati na rin yung SP resolution sa pag apply ng syudad sa DENR ng mga lupa in question.
Gonzalo: Yung Tondaligan Park ba ay sigurado ka na walang pribadong tao na kumuha doon?
Alvin: Walang nagalaw sa Tondaligan Park. Kung meron man nag ooccupy dyan sa Tondaligan ay iilang pamilya lamang na may Titulo yung lupa. Isa ka na doon.
Gonzalo: Wala akong alam doon. Binili ng tatay ko yung lupa na yun kay Caretero.

I immediately called Sanggunian’s record officer to look for the files requested by Gonzalo. The letter of the fisherfolks that raised the issue to the sp about the illegal occupants was given me the following day. However, the transcript will take time as the date of the session that inquired to CENRO was not certain. The conversation took place Nov14, Tuesday. The column was published Nov.19, Sunday, which makes printing on Saturday. Therefore his story could have been submitted Thursday or Friday. He should have told me, “Alvin, I am giving you only two days to give me the documents I want, otherwise I will make my own story as How I imagined it to have happened without any reflection on our discussion.”

What irritated me is the presentation of Gonzalo’s story where he made it appear that the City did not do anything to correct the problem. He even put words in my mouth that I am transferring the administration of Tondaligan to DENR. He made it appear that there is a cover up in the alleged sale of billions of pesos worth of land inside Tondaligan Park. The story only focused on Tondaligan Park which I already clarified in the conversation was not the problem. I even clarified that occupants inside the vicinity of Tondaligan Park that cut Tondaligan Park that are Titled Lands belongs to a few family and one belongs to HIS family. If we are to believe the accountant of Gonzalo, his property in Bonuan beach declared as Orchard Land or Agricultural Land will be in the market value of THREE Hundred Twenty Eight Million Pesos (P328,000,000). Are these the Billions he is concerned about? Is he questioning the manner on how he was able to acquire his property in Tondaligan?

Just the same, the Sanggunian did a re inquiry on the Bonuan Beach Accreted land that were issued Certificates of Alienability and Disposability. We thank PENRO OIC Rogel Pimentel for accepting the invitation of the Sanggunian. On said date was also an invitation for Mr. Gonzalo Duque which was a no show on his part. The bottom line results were the same as the first inquiry or as others wish to use the word investigation. It is the State and the City of Dagupan who has priority over its usage.

The City has already applied for these lands via the Miscellaneous Lease Application making these rich occupants ILLEGAL. On the question of accountability, Did the City lose public properties or did the City gain public properties? Who stands to lose? Did the city approve of any application from Private entities to waive the city’s right over these public lands? The city will be ejecting these illegal rich occupants in the right time to give way to the Special Economic Zone. The city WILL NEVER TOLERATE any LAND GRABBING.

      It also raised the issue from the DENR on how private individuals were able to secure Titles on the beachfront of Dagupan considered foreshore lands. If we are to use the estimates of Gonzalo’s accountant, then indeed these Titled Lands are worth Billions. These lands are separate from Tondaligan Park, but these lands are also located in the heart of Tondaligan Park. In fact these lands divided Tondaligan Park. That is why the park is not whole.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments