Subd Cmte tackles renewal of foreshore lease in Gusa

THE City Council Committee on Subdivision and Landed Estate chaired by Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas has deferred for further discussion the request of JCA Company for renewal of the foreshore lease for its commercial office and warehouse in Barangay Gusa.

Mr. Jose Chavez Alvarez, property owner, is requesting the City Council’s no objection to the said renewal covering a 3,459-sq.m. lot and an additional foreshore area of 10,000 square meters at the Macajalar Bay boundary, or a total of 13,459 square meter of coastal underwater area.

During the meeting, Allan Rosal, representative of the owner, said the company already secured certificate of no objection from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). But the DPWH representative explained that the process of securing no objection from the DPWH is not yet completed based on the Department Order No. 78 of 2023 on streamlining the process for the issuance of certificate of no objection relative to the applications of Foreshore Lease Applications (FLAs), among others.

Meanwhile, Barangay Gusa Chair Marlo Tabac expressed reservation to the application, saying it will affect the livelihood of the fisherfolks of the barangay.

“We will register our objection because asa na man managat among mananagat? The Barangay Council must protect our shoreline”, he pointed out.

After thorough deliberation, Councilor Cabanlas and Councilor Roger G. Abaday advised the applicant to confer with the City Planning and Development Office and City Engineer’s Office for further course of action on the matter.

The committee will discuss the matter again during its next meeting.