Dagupan SP seeks to restrict land conversion
PANTAL-LUCAO AREA
THE Dagupan City Council is rushing a draft ordinance seeking to stop the reported unbridled conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural along the Pantal-Lucao area following the promulgation of the new City Land Use Plan (CLUP) that identified it as one of the three new growth centers of Dagupan.
Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, who together with Councilors Luis Samson Jr., Nicanor Aquino and Guillermo Vallejos drafted the ordinance, told newsmen the draft ordinance, has taken into account the observation of the city council that there is continuous backfilling of fishponds along the Pantal-Lucao area, which if unchecked will have impact on food security not only of the city but of the country.
The fishponds owned by different private individuals produce the tasty Dagupan bangus are also in Metro Manila and backfilling these up could result in shortage of milkfish in the market.
Tamayo, a lawyer, warned there is a national law that limits the reclassification of agricultural lands to non-agricultural by 15 percent of the total land area devoted to agriculture.
He expressed apprehension that the limit might have already been exceeded that is why an ordinance on reclassification as well as the zoning ordinance must be enforced prior to the issuance of business permits and mayor’s permits to individuals or business establishments.
Tamayo said the proposed ordinance is in accord with draft resolution No. R-5557 authored by Councilors Samson, Aquino and Vallejos approved during a special session on Wednesday. It requested the city engineer and the city assessor to refrain from issuing permits and other pertinent documents to lot owners intending to convert their respective lots along the Pantal-Lucao diversion road and other areas in the city from fishponds to commercial lots, without the knowledge of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Tamayo instead proposed an ordinance that would have a more forceful impact on those seeking reclassification of their lands in the city.
The councilors believe it is only the SP that can approve and endorse the reclassification of lands from non-agricultural to commercial as provided in the newly approved CLUP. (Leonardo Micua)
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