Fort Magsaysay shrinking, losing 460 hectares yearly

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 8): Fort Magsaysay shrinking, losing 460 hectares yearly



CAPTAIN REYES: ‘The reservation is now down to 45,837 hectares from a high of 73,000 hectares in 1955.’ (Sheen Crisologo)

Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija — This military camp has been shrinking in size over the years at an average of 460 hectares per year, owing to the issuance of various presidential proclamations and the intrusion of thousands of informal settlers.

Army Captain Robert Reyes, adjutant of the 7th Infantry Division based in this camp, told a press briefing recently that the reservation is now down to 45,837 hectares from a high of 73,000 when it was first established pursuant to Presidential Decree 237 on Dec. 19, 1955.

Reyes said they are now looking into various ways and means to somehow recover and retain its land area.

“We are now looking into the different proclamations, directives and reviewing them. Of course there are areas we can no longer recover. And we refer other claims to the Office of the SolGen (Solicitor General),” he said.

At present, he said their goal is to be able to utilize the areas.

Reyes said some other areas, like the 3,100 hectares in Laur town, have already been segregated as settlement for victims of the Mt. Pinatubo eruptions.

“These 3,100 hectares are now the subject of a review and we need further study,” he said.

Reyes said that the situation is worsened by the proliferation of informal settlers. He said they are proposing two relocation sites to house the informal settlers who have grown to 15,000 individuals.

The presence of these informal settlers has been setting back efforts to fully develop the reservation.

The division said that they are planning to turn portions of the reservation into a vast area for agriculture production, including 3,000 hectares for bamboo plantation.

A proposed land use plan also intends to set up a logistics center, an economic and industrial zone, eco-tourism area, reforestation area, a plantation area for fruit-bearing and non-fruit bearing trees, a livestock and vegetable area and 240 hectares for the proposed transfer of the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa to this camp.

Also being eyed is the construction of a hangar/warehouse for stockpiling of relief goods and other rescue support.

The proposed site for the NBP is in Barangay Nazareth, Gen. Tinio town.

On April 10, 2013, then-commanding general and now Northern Luzon (Nolcom) commanding general, Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Franklin Bucayu surveyed three possible sites for the NBP, two in Nazareth and one in Canantong, Laur.

“These are just proposals at this point but we intend to pursue them if we can,” Reyes said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/fort-magsaysay-shrinking-losing-460-hectares-yearly/