PANGLAO.–Lawmakers of this tourist municipality are poised to approve the much-anticipated Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) , the soonest, the better following the usual procedures and consultation, Vice-Mayor Evangeline Bon-Lazaro said in an exclusive interview at her office last week.  The eagerness of the CLUP’s earnest approval was supported by Kagawad Noel Hormachuelos, chair of the environment committee. The lady vice mayor said that she wanted the passage of the CLUP fast-tracked. She said the measure has long been overdue citing that it was the cause of much irritation among tourism industry players.  The vice-mayor said that consultations and public hearings would soon be scheduled and she hoped that the proposed CLUP will be approved before the campaign period starts sometime in March next year.

Kagawad Hormachuelos, in separate interview, is also eager that such approval be hastened since the proposed CLUP has already gone substantive consultations with the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) and the Civil Aeronautics Administration of the Philippines (CAAP).  Hormachuelos, who chairs the environment committee of the municipal council, said that he wanted the three important aspects ---- tourism, agriculture and environment ---- of the CLUP be given focus. But for Kagawad Walter Sultan, it would be better that all avenues possible, including solicitation of ideas and expertise, must be conducted because “haste is waste.” Asked what is the development of the review of the proposed CLUP, he just said, “it is in progress.”  He said that he also wanted that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Tourism Investment and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA) be invited to contribute to the finalization of the CLUP draft prior to its approval.

The proposed CLUP to be adopted through a municipal ordinance has been stalled for quite awhile during the past administrations because of “political bickering” among the executive and legislative branches of municipal government here.  The absence of CLUP caused “irreparable” damage on some of the town’s precious natural resources and environment. The lawmakers have cited some breach of environmental and coastal laws.  In Alona beach, for instance, a string of concrete barrier has been a clear violation of the 20-meter salvage zone. Even, Mayor Benedicto Alcala was irked about the illegal structures earning him court suits as he enforced the 20-meter zone requirement. Another irritant issue is the height of the building or resorts being constructed along the coastal areas in Alona and Doljo beach resorts.