SP Oks reclassification of lot for memorial park project in Puerto

THROUGH an ordinance, the 19th City Council headed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy approved the reclassification of land use from agricultural to special use/memorial park of a parcel of land located in Barangay Puerto.

The particular lot covers an area of 35,205 square meters as applied for by Golden Haven Memorial Park, Inc., developer. The reclassification was recommended by the City Planning and Development Office, City Health Office, Barangay Council of Puerto, among others.

During the regular session, Councilor Roger Abaday asked for clarification on the certificate of reclassification and the need to conduct a public hearing prior to the application.

Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas, chair of the committee on subdivision and landed estate, said Department of Agriculture (DA) Administrative Order No. 18 of 2020, otherwise known as Guidelines on the Issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility for Conversion of Agricultural Land was revoked last October 7, 2020 by DA Administrative Order No. 30 of 2020.

The specific office assigned to receive applications for conversion was dissolved, said Cabanlas.

He reported that the National Technical Evaluation Committee on Land Use Matters (NTECLUM), and the Regional Technical Evaluation Committee on Land Use Matters (RTECLUM) were abolished as explicitly stated under the administrative order.

On the concern regarding a public hearing, Cabanlas said the application is not for conversion but only reclassification of lot.

“This is not a conversion from agricultural to residential,” he pointed out.

Cabanlas said the Barangay Council of Puerto interposed no objection to the memorial park project. Barangay officials said constituents living nearby have no objection to the proposed project, he added.

Mayor Oscar Moreno likewise certified the social acceptability of the memorial park citing that the proposed project has undergone the consultation process, and complied with all the necessary documents required by the government agencies.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on subdivision and landed estate and on laws and rules respectively chaired by Councilors Cabanlas and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya.