SP enacts River boundaries of FRIMP-CDOR Regulated Land-Use Zone Law

CAGAYAN de Oro city legislators headed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy on Monday, July 12, approved an ordinance declaring the river boundaries (in-between) the Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro (FRIMP- CDOR) as Regulated Land-Use Zone.

In his letter to the city council, Mayor Oscar Moreno said the city recognizes the significance and critical role of these areas within the FRIMP-CDOR regulated land use. He said it is the policy of the city to uphold the rights to life and property by addressing the root causes of vulnerabilities to disasters and to strengthen the capacities of the local government unit for risk reduction and management.

The ordinance aims to establish define the extent of prohibition and development of areas classified as Regulated Land-Use Zone and adopt a basic policy governing the utilization, development, conservation and protection of these areas and rights to land, among others.

As defined by the ordinance, these areas refer collectively to areas enclosed by the “mega dike” and locally-funded flood wall infrastructures covering barangays of Bonbon, Kauswagan, Carmen and Balulang at the west, and Macabalan, Consolacion, Barangays 1, 6, 7, 10, 13, 15 and 17, Nazareth and Macasandig, portions of which lie along the stretch of Cagayan de Oro River banks.

The law provides that no human habitation shall be allowed on these areas by virtue of the imminent danger this poses to human life and/or property.

INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE

The ordinance also provides the creation of an Inter-Agency Committee for its Conservation and Sustainable Development, and Protection and Monitoring within the Regulated Land- Use Zone areas.

The inter-agency committee shall formulate plans/guidelines for the utilization and development of the area, with utmost consideration to address the impacts of climate change and disaster risk reduction. It shall engage various stakeholders for its conservation and sustainable development and monitor its

implementation and evaluate the impacts to the development agenda of the city, among others.

The ordinance was endorsed by the committees on subdivision and landed estate chaired by Councilor Edgar Cabanlas, on planning and development, and on laws and rules both chaired by Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya.