Iloilo city: Lone District Representative Julienne Baronda is calling for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the issuance of titles for a mangrove area spanning three barangays in Iloilo City.
According to Philippines News Agency, Baronda highlighted in her privilege speech at the House of Representatives on Monday evening that homestead patents were issued for areas integral to the Iloilo Flood Control Project. This involves a 50-hectare coastline located in Barangays Balabago, Bito-on, and Hinactacan.
"These mangroves are not ornamental, they are not optional, and they are not dispensable. They are a lifeline. For years, the government invested money, labor, and time to grow these mangroves," Baronda stated. The areas in question include Lot 1 with OCT No. 202400006 covering 70,000 square meters, Lot 2 with OCT No. 202400008 covering 220,000 square meters, and Lot 3 with OCT No. 202400007 covering 210,000 square meters. The patents were issued on April 25, 2024.
Baronda pointed out that the titles cover land equivalent to 70 football fields, all classified as agricultural according to certifications from the City Assessor's Office. She expressed concern that the issue is not only alarming but also legally untenable, as mangroves are classified as forest lands, which are inherently inalienable and cannot be titled.
"Titling mangrove areas as private agricultural land directly violates this constitutional duty. Under existing land laws and jurisprudence, homestead patents require actual, continuous, and visible cultivation of agricultural land," Baronda explained. She emphasized that while she supports progress and development, it should not come at the cost of endangering lives.
Baronda demanded a full investigation, complete documentation, and a moratorium on all private activities in the contested areas. She also urged for a citywide audit of all titled properties along the Iloilo Strait, warning that the issue could be systemic and not isolated to these barangays.
"If this happened in Balabago and Bito-on, it can happen elsewhere; in other parts of the country. This is not an isolated case - it may be systemic," she concluded.
