Cordillerans ‘squatters’ in their own lands

EDITORIAL

Unless Presidential Decree 705 is amended or repealed, people living under its scope are squatters in their own land like in the Cordillera. 

PD 705 states lands above 18 degrees in elevation form part of the forest lands of the State, thus, it cannot be declared as alienable and disposable by government agencies.

Lately, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu bared his plan to exempt Baguio City from coverage of the 18 degrees slope limitation imposed by PD 705 or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines.

But Baguio mayor Mauricio Domogan said the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources already granted the exemption from the 18 degrees slope limitation to Benguet and that Baguio city which is within the territorial jurisdiction of Benguet should be actually granted the same treatment.

Domogan said the environment department accepted applications from individuals and corporations for the titling of lands that are actually above the 18 degrees limitation prescribed under PD 705, thus, the exemption is supposed to have been long overdue.

He said the DENR should come out with a final decision on the matter so all issues and concerns on lands covered by PD 705 would be resolved.

For many decades, cause-oriented groups in the Cordillera have repeatedly called on the national government to exempt the region from provisions of PD 705 as almost all of the lands in the region are above 18 degrees in elevation which do not qualify for declaration as alienable and disposable and granted titles by the State.

Numerous individuals have already built their structures in areas that are over the 18 degrees slope limitation but are not able to process their applications for the titling of their properties they have occupied and that of their forebears considering PD 705.

Cordillera autonomy advocates are now saying the region should become autonomous so the issue will be addressed and the public like indigenous peoples will have more control over their lands free from the shackles of oppressive laws like PD 705.