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Catigbian resolves timberland issue over barangay Maitum

Written by magnolia_eic on 22 August 2010

DARKNESS eases out of Barangay Maitum in Catigbian when dialog diffused a potential governance headache here.

Long believed as an incendiary that help spark the avid support to the communist, the situation could not just be left unattended, says Catigbian Mayor Roberto Salinas.

Maitum, an agricultural barangay sliced off from a forest, owns 638.8 hectares all classified timberland based on the 1928 survey.

Being timberlands, farmers eversince could not own lands as this is technically government property.

The implications are unthinkable, says Mayor Roberto Salinas, hinting that everyone here is illegally settling and harvesting their planted trees on government lands can get them to jail.

“The thing is, we have problems collecting real estate and property tax from the people as the lands they settle in, are technically not theirs” bemoaned Salinas.

On his last term, Salinas has since attempted to remedy the situation by reclassification of timberlands into alienable and disposable (A and D) lands. This allows the process of claiming ownership to proceed.

After several attempts, the retired navy captain turned mayor finally succeeded in facilitating a dialog among residents and authorities from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Agrarian Reform (DAR) and local concerned agencies and offices last August 17, 2010.

That day, at the Maitum Barnagy Hall, DENR 7 Regional Director V11 Leonardo Sibaluca, Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Forest Management Service Isabelo Montejo, RTD for Land Management Service Diana Apistar, and DAR RD Rudy Inson, Capitol Consultant Isabelito Tongco, PENRO Nestor Canda, CENRO Eusalem Quiwag, BEMO’s Nunilo La Fuente, DAR Bohol’s Operations chief Ronald Pumatong and Catigbian officials led by Salinas, Vice Mayor Rey Lacea, SB members, MPDC Tifilito Rulida, Mun Treasurere Ranulfo Suarez, Assessor Benjie Lacea, MARO Laura Lacea and Maitum barangay officials led by Brgy Captain Jun Tupaz convened for the historic ironing out of the governance kinks.

DAR Bohol’s Dr Ronald Pumatong recounted the “joint efforts” of the municipality and DAR, which has ushered in the moment.

RTDs Montejo and Diana Apistar admitted before the barangay folks that the problem sprouted from an erroneous 1928 survey.

Both of them however were amenable to reclassify the 356.3 hectares as A and D so these can be titled in favor of the farmers.

The meeting then led to the correction of classification from the erroneous survey thereby identifying more than half of the total Maitum area as alienable and disposable, to the applause of barangay folks.

This leaves only an area of only 282.5 hectares as timberland.

Over the development, DENR RD Sibaluca, urged accelerated process of documentation pegged a month-long target so they can finally turn over the A and D lands to DAR for proper disposition.

Finally, DAR RD Inson directed his men to fast track the titling of the lands already tilled by farmers long time ago.

Asked if the one-month target is attainable, government officials said they are optimistic that it can be done. (racPIABohol)

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