RDC group: Reclassify some Cordillera forest lands as alienable

By Jose B. Costales Jr. 

BAGUIO CITY -- The Regional Development Council housing subcommittee pushed reclassification of Cordillera forest lands to alienable and disposable (AD) as it presented  status of the RDC’s forestland development project here May 26 at the RDC Hall.
    While the subcommittee pushed full implementation of 104,621.12 hectares determined as “non-conforming,” it supported reduced 17, 651.81 hectares of forestland to be reclassified as A&D lands.
    These parcels of land are considered non-conforming areas because their land uses under forest land classification are now residential, rice fields, and government structures.
    This number accounted for 15 percent of the total proposal as recommended by the National Assessment and Delineation Committee (NADC). 
    The low percentage was due to the following reasons: some areas remain covered by proclamations; under geo-hazard (prone to landslide and flooding); location with a topography of above 18% in slope and less than 250 hectares. 
    “The proposed declaration of A&D areas is advantageous to the region, and beneficial to the greater number of Cordillerans, especially since the region is in dire need of land to address housing needs,” said DHSUD assistant regional director Michelline Inay.  
    Other RSDC subcommittees are social protection, education and manpower development and regional implementation and coordination team for health, nutrition, and reproductive health.
The RSDC is chaired by regional director Arnel Garcia of the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development and co-chaired by PSR Arnel Cabanisas. 
    Director Susan A. Sumbeling, RDC vice-chairperson and National Economic Development Authority regional director serves as secretariat of the committee.