Alaminos City government is set to undertake reclamation projects at Lucap Bay and its foreshore areas that will finally give the constituents and local businessmen here a sense of permanency over their prized possessions.

The city headed by Mayor Hernani A. Braganza and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) through its General Manager and CEO Andrea D. Domingo have recently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for the said reclamation project in the city.

The MOA signing was held at the new Welcome House and Tourist Information Center in Lucap Wharf and witnessed by city lawmakers Orlando Go, Cirilo Radoc, Oscar Boling, Ma. Angela Braganza, Carolyn Dizon-Sison and Felimon Bacala Jr.

Officials of barangay Lucap, the officers of the Hundred Islands Tourism Related Establishments Cooperative (HITREC) and concerned barangay folks were also present during the historic event.

“Our citymates here in barangay Lucap have long dreamed that this day will come,” said Mayor Braganza after sealing the deal.

Braganza thanked GM Domingo for putting PRA’s trust and confidence to the city government on this project. 

“This signing is actually unplanned,” stressed the Mayor. "We are very grateful that it just happened in the course of almost two weeks.” 

“We are happy that this agreement would now empower the city to have clearer authority in this area,” said the Mayor. 

He cited that the houses and business establishments that are erected along the Lucap shores are still part of the national park. 

Under the city charter, the HINP, Lucap bay and marine reserve fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the city government of Alaminos. 

In 1982, Proclamation No. 2183 explicitly stated that the HINP as well as the Lucap Bay and its foreshore area are declared as a Tourist Zone and Marine Protected Reserve under the control and administration of Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).

But the HINP, which has been managed by PTA, is now under the direct control, supervision and management of the city government by virtue of Executive Order No. 436 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in June 21, 2005. 

With the said measure, the city government has also full administration and discretion over the award and regulation of all activities and concessions in the HINP as well as the Lucap Bay and its foreshore areas. 

Braganza disclosed that the project will also be included in the city’s Master Development and Land Use Plan.

He stressed that Alaminos had already learned from the mistakes of our big cities and top tourist destinations.

“We believe that planning must really come first before any development,” he said.

“It’s high time to put everything in place to enhance the area’s developments and give our citymates what they deserve.”

Braganza said the city will comply with all the provisions of the MOA especially the national laws that have something to do with the city’s protected marine environment.

“And we, in the city, will do its best so that our partnership will achieve its lofty goals for city and our people.”

The Mayor explained that with this reclamation project, hundreds of residents and business establishment owners here will soon have full security on the ownership of the reclaimed lands.

The project could also mean a possible expansion of more businesses in the area.

He added that project is an offshoot that the Lucap bay and foreshore areas are gate ways to Hundred Islands National Park (HINP).

Domingo said one of the advantages of the joint coordination in the management and supervision of reclamation projects is the assurance of the full protection of the environment.

“It also ensures the security of the livelihood of the constituents’ commercial establishment," she added.

The agency general manager said a public hearing will be set soon to explain to the concerned sector the benefits of said project and get their full support.

She added that PRA will make sure that the lands are properly reclaimed as it will conduct surveys and monitor the compliance with the existing laws.

Upon the approval of the reclamation projects, PRA will process the land titles for distribution to the recipients.

PRA is the national government agency which is primarily responsible in tegrating, directing, and coordinating all reclamation projects in the country.

The power to approve reclamation projects by the said agency is stated in E.O. No. 543 issued by the president in June 2006. (CIO)