Informal settlers encroach on Coron, Busuanga

BUSUANGA, Palawan - Informal settlers from other provinces have started to encroach on Coron and Busuanga in Palawan, a local official said.

Busuanga Mayor Elizabeth Cervantes told GMA News Online in an interview that they have monitored the presence of migrants from other provinces.

"Medyo may pumapasok. Nagkakaro'n kami ng mga informal settlers. And then sa mga island barangays din namin, meron kaming namo-monitor na pumapasok from other provinces," she said.

Philippine Tour Operators Association Inc. (PHILTOA) president Cesar Cruz alleged that these are professional informal settlers from Mindoro.

"The informal settlers came from Mindoro daw. These are professional... Hindi sila maliit ha. It's big," Cruz told GMA News Online.

Local executives are concerned that informal settlers have set their sights on tourist gem Coron. Jessica Bartolome

The municipalities affected are tourist gem Coron, as well as Busuanga, which is the gateway of Palawan. The two municipalities share an island.

Informal settlers started moving to the island at least three years ago

Cruz worries that the presence of these informal settlers will be detrimental to the island's development.

"Coron, Busuanga affected. Ang masagwa kasi, they would place themselves in an area na kapag hindi nag-stop, makakasira sa sitwasyon ng Coron at Busuanga," he said.

He added that there is no social problem in Coron and Busuanga that would result to homelessness, and that these informal settlers are outsiders.

The local government has started taking measures to control the situation.

Mayor Cervantes said that they have already requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for at least 200 hectares of land that they can use to manage the growing informal settlers' community.

"'Yan ang tinututukan namin ngayon. Nakikipag-ugnayan kami sa DENR para kahit papa'no may makuha kami doon, mapakinabangan at maging productive ang area," she said.

"Sa ngayon meron kaming request sa DENR to give us at least 200 hectares from the area para magkaroon ng pagpaplano ang munisipyo," she added. —KG, GMA News

DISCLOSURE: This story was produced through a trip sponsored by the 28th Philippine Travel Mart, presented by Philippine Tour Operators Association.