Previous Story
DLNR opposes bill reserving public lands on Tinian
|
Posted on Sep 28 2008
The Department of Lands and Natural Resources has urged Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to veto a bill reserving certain public lands on Tinian for agricultural homesteads and commercial uses.
DLNR Secretary Ignacio Dela Cruz said the Legislature has no business managing public lands, as that authority is reserved for the Department of Public Lands.
“At the very least, the Legislature is overstepping the responsibilities and duties not reserved for itself. Worse yet, the Legislature is infringing on executive branch functions, and that is to implement laws it itself passed,” Dela Cruz said.
For this reasons, he said the governor should disapprove the bill.
Under the proposed legislation, a total of 524 hectares of public land on Tinian will be reserved for agricultural homesteads and commercial uses.
Some 140 hectares of the Chalan Famalao’an for commercial and other purposes, as determined jointly by Tinian’s mayor, municipal council, and legislative delegation. About 40 hectares of the area will be reserved for agricultural or residential homestead lots. In addition, the bill proposes to designate 384 hectares in the Pina area for agricultural homestead lots.
Proponents of the legislation maintain that certain areas must be reserved for commercial use, as there is a limited amount of public lands available on Tinian and there must be resources available for future economic investment opportunities.
They also note the long list of Tinian residents who have been waiting for agricultural homestead lots.
But Dela Cruz argues, “Designation by law tends to hamper development and progress, both on the designated public lands and adjacent lands. For example, the Legislature has found that the remaining available public lands on Tinian is very little. This finding alone is telling that the Legislature ought not to statutorily restrict development on those remaining public lands.”
He adds that, instead of passing legislation to reserve public lands for specific purposes, the Legislature should push for the development and adoption of a land use master plan.
