Capitol to set up Osmeña Peak management board
To settle the dispute over the Osmeña Peak in the South, the Provincial Board (PB) eyes to create a management board to oversee the operations and ensure the fair sharing of the tourist site’s revenues.
Dalaguete Tourism officer Victor Caruz said the Osmeña Peak is host to an average of 8,000 visitors per month.
Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said that with the environmental fee of P50 for each visitor, this translates to P400,000 in monthly revenue.
Last month, Magpale and the PB members met with Badian Mayor Carmen Librando-Lumain, Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Cesante, and their respective councilors, as well as representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to resolve issues concerning the jurisdiction of Osmeña Peak.
Both the LGUs of Badian and Dalaguete questioned the claim of the other that Osmeña Peak is within their respective jurisdiction.
Aside from the two LGUs, there are also private individuals with certificate of stewardship contracts (CSC) for Osmeña Peak which has resulted in overlapping claims.
Based on DENR records, ALU-TUCP occupies a wide area on the peak through its Tree Farm Lease Agreement (TFLA) valid for 25 years.
Cesante said that there is no tree visible on the area which resulted from the supposed tree-growing efforts of the group.
According to Marjun de los Reyes, head of licensing, patents and deed section of DENR regional office, ALU-TUCP’s TFLA will expire in September this year.
On another hand, DENR had also issued tenure instruments to farmers to till lands on the peak area.
Heirs of private citizens Abraham and Elizer Nepumoceno possess certificates of tenure, where they planted cabbages and other prime vegetables in the area.
The certificate for the area of Abraham expired in 2015 and was renewed while that of Elizer has not been renewed yet.
The rights issued to different parties have caused issues on its management.
“Ang problema man gud, government agencies nagpahimutang og mga rights owing to (many) claimants,” said Cesante.
Magpale, who heads the Provincial Tourism Committee, said that the matter should immediately be addressed to protect Osmeña Peak, a tourist destination in the South.
“Let us protect this jewel. Please help us, DENR. Maghimo ta og management team,” said Magpale.
As such, all parties agreed that a management team would be created, with members coming from representatives of both Dalaguete and Badian towns, DENR and the Provincial Government.
The team will manage, supervise and formulate policies together that will govern the peak.
It was agreed that the creation of the new management team will be guided by the organizational set-up of a previous Osmeña Peak management team organized under the Province’s environment office. This time, the team will be under the Capitol’s tourism office.
As to complaints on tarpaulins at the Osmeña Peak’s entrance bearing its location in Dalaguete, Cesante said these are initiated by tour operators and tourist guides offering tour packages, which they have no control over.
Magpale said this will also be the role of the management team, to correct mislabeling, if there is.
Further, Badian Councilor Edwin Celeste urged DENR to inform LGUs if there are applicants for CSC.
It was agreed that farmers with tenure instruments on the peak will be relocated to another area outside the peak and that those with tenure that are about to expire should undergo assessment of their stewardships.