Tolentino calls for passage of Nat’l Land Use Act, says Itogon must undergo rehab

Presidential political adviser and Typhoon Ompong point person Francis Tolentino on Sunday urged for the passage of the National Land Use Act following the deadly landslides that occurred in Itogon, Benguet and Naga City, Cebu last week.

"'Yung sinisipat ko dito matagal na nakabinbin sa Kongreso 'yung National Land Use Plan natin eh aprubahan na... iliwanag na dito 'yung mga geohazard maps, kung merong mga certificate of occupancy nila, cancel-cancel na 'yun," Tolentino said in an interview on DZMM.

"'Yung mga mining areas, depende sa prayoridad ng pangulo kung kakanselahin lahat 'yung mga small-scale dahil nga 'yung pangyayari sa Cebu. Lahat po ito dapat nilalaman na ng National Land Use Plan," Tolentino added.

Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda, the NALUA aims to create a comprehensive framework to institutionalize land use and planning, as well as land allocation priorities.

In 2017, the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 5240 or "An act instituting a national land use and management policy” which substituted for similar measures on land use.

A counterpart bill was filed in the Senate by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, but has not yet moved so far in the upper chamber of Congress.

Police source noted that the death toll in the landslide at the mining site in Itogon has already reached 49, while 43 bodies have already been recovered after some 30 homes were buried in the landslide that struck the barangays of Naalad and Tinaan in Naga City.

Naga City is a known mining site for non-metallic minerals, including limestone.

Tolentino also mentioned that he wants the town of Itogon to undergo complete rehabilitation.

"Siguro isara muna natin, mag-rehab tayo, 'yung mga lungga doon, mga tunnel, mga butas eh kung papano ang laman noon, pagtataklob... Hindi lang 'yung greening eh, kasi surface lang 'yung vegetation, dapat po puno eh, dapat po complete rehabilitation," Tolentino stressed.

"Complete rehabilitation would mean restoration of the environment in its previous state prior to the mining activity," he added.

He also pointed out that local government units would be of great help in curbing illegal mining activities across the country.

"Malaking tulong dito ang LGU, 'yung mga komunidad kasi alam nila ang volume nito eh, alam nila ang production, alam nila 'yung logistics nito," Tolentino said.

Itogon, Benguet is among the areas severely devastated by Typhoon Ompong as it barreled through northern Luzon, causing landslides and floods, and leaving a swath of destruction in agriculture and infrastructure in its wake. — BM, GMA News