Daba bats for use of ‘no build zones’ as sites of barangay facilities

FOR Councilor Reuben R. Daba, chair of the City Council committee on social services, no build zones behind the megadike on both banks of the Cagayan de Oro River can be utilized as sites for barangay centers, parks, open spaces, promenades and other facilities not intended for habitation.

In his special report during the 18th City Council regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy, Councilor Daba proposed for the passage of a resolution urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for an exemption to the “No Build Zone” in Cagayan de Oro River starting from Isla Baksan and its parallel side in Carmen and all the way to Rotunda as it is designated as easement for the construction of government facilities.

Councilor Daba said it is in accordance with the provisions in Article 51 of Presidential Decree 1067 which provides that banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes throughout their entire length and within a zone of three (3) meters in urban areas, twenty (20) meters in agricultural areas and forty (40) meters in forest areas, along their margins are subject to the easement of public use in the interest of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and salvage.

Daba pointed out that these are areas designated as “No Build Zone”. However, because of Typhoon Sendong and as a matter of disaster preparedness, the government put up flood control and mitigating measures which is now ongoing on both banks of Cagayan de Oro River starting from Barangay Macabalan and ending in Macasandig.

“The area running along the dikes which are open but still a no build zone as provided in the law are therefore relatively safe provided that they are not used for rehabilitation” he stressed.

Daba requested that national and local governments be allowed to put such facilities as barangay hall, health center, sports center, child development center, multi-purpose hall, parks, open spaces and promenades for use of their constituents specifically that urban barangays situated along the river are deprived of such spaces.

“Dugay na gayud kana nga damgo sa atong mga kauban labina ang urban barangay nato 1 to 40 nga wala gayud silay space” he said.

Vice Mayor Uy referred the special report of Councilor Daba to the Committee of the Whole for thorough deliberation. (JBD)