Calabarzon Land Use Committee tackles Protected Area Management and Local Resource Issues
In his welcome remarks, DENR Region IV-A Director Reynulfo Juan moved for a resolution endorsing to Congress the immediate passage of the National Land Use Act which will institutionalize land use planning as basis for rational utilization of the country’s land resources. Inset left photo: NEDA Region IV-A Luis Banua (center) supported RD Juan’s resolution on the National Land Use Act and pointed out the important role of LGU planning departments to implement rational land use allocation.

The Regional Land Use Committee of RDC IV-A convened its 2nd semester meeting on 27 July 2016 at Monte Vista Hotspring and Conference Resort, Calamba City to discuss the status of key protected areas in the region, environmental master plans and other local resource issues.

Representatives from the Protected Area Management Board from the provinces of Batangas, Quezon and Rizal presented updates on the protection, management and development of the following protected areas: Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL), Quezon Protected Landscape and Hinulugang Taktak. Based on the TVPL Management Plan 2011-2020, Forester Jasmin Andaya presented the accomplishments on water quality monitoring, volunteer involvement and training, delineation of sub watershed areas, plantation establishment, creation of ecotourism master plan, establishment of early warning systems, and establishment of tourism facilities in the Taal Volcano protected area.
For Hinulugang Taktak, Ms. Milagros Trias, the Provincial Planning and Development Officer of Rizal reported that the protected areas is now catering to a monthly average of 22,154 visitors and was granted P40 million worth of projects by Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. DENR suggested coming up with a carrying capacity study for the protected areas to determine the impacts of ecotourism and protect the area.

The Marikina River Basin Master Plan and the Yambo Lake Development and Management Plan (DMP) were presented by DENR Region IV-A and the Laguna Lake Development Authority, respectively. The Yambo Lake DMP aims to protect and conserve the lake from eco-tourism developments and ensure sustainable livelihood to the community. The LLDA Board postponed its approval of the plan in consideration of NEDA’s comments to integrate tourism activities of Yambo lake with the adjacent Pandin lake, improve accessibility and highlight the environment protection strategies in the plan.

The City Planning Development Office of Calamba City presented the status on the registration of Hot Spring Resorts. The proliferation of unregistered resorts in the city has resulted to depletion of groundwater, flooding and other hazards. The city government embarked on intensive tax mapping and is considering to include the National Water Resources Board permit as one requirement for business permit. Dr. Piadozo of University of the Philippines Los Baños suggested to create a specific office on resort management that will maintain a database of resort owners, facilitate organizing the resort owners and to use collections to finance traffic management along the highway near the resorts.

Calabarzon Land Use Committee tackles Protected Area Management and Local Resource Issues
Left to right: Forester Jasmin Andaya presented the accomplishments of the TVPL Protected Area Unit; Ms. Karla M. Boholano, CPDO of Calamba City presented the current efforts of the city government to address the negative effects of unregistered resorts; Ms. Soledad Reyes of LLDA presented the formulation and major components of the Yambo Lake Development and Management Plan.

Theresa Jane Cajarte, NEDA Region IV-A | Monday, August 8, 2016