Amendment of PP 1064 Gaining Ground
- May 1
- 2 min read
By Jun N. Aguirre
The move to amend Presidential Proclamation No. 1064 (PP 1064) is gaining momentum, particularly concerning the controversial 30-meter-wide road easement on Boracay Island. Signed in 2006 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, PP 1064 classified portions of the island as either forestland or agricultural land.
For years, Boracay residents have advocated for an amendment to resolve long-standing land ownership disputes and secure legal titles for their properties. A central point of contention is the proclamation’s mandate for a 30-meter road easement, which locals argue is impractical for an island of Boracay's size. Stakeholders are pushing to align these regulations with local ordinances by reducing the current 15-meter buffer on each side of the road’s centerline to 12 meters.
On March 16, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) hosted a Consultation Workshop at the Royal Suites Condotel in Kalibo to discuss the “Proposed Amendment of Road Easement per PP 1064.” The primary objective of the proposal is to officially adopt a 12-meter road setback, replacing the 30-meter requirement established in 2006.
During a Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting in Iloilo last February, former DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla suggested reviving the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF). Created via Executive Order No. 53 in 2018 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, the BIATF was instrumental in the island’s environmental rehabilitation, addressing pollution, sewage issues, and environmental compliance.
However, Lotilla noted that reviving the task force faces challenges, as many of its original implementers have since retired from government service.
The workshop featured a comprehensive presentation by Atty. Connie Palmes on the legal and policy frameworks governing road easements. Technical insights were provided by Engr. Meliton Solas of the Surveys and Mapping Division (SMD) who explained the practical necessity of the amendment. Additionally, Engr. Vivien Alvarez, Chief of the SMD Surveys and Control Section, presented specific road configurations based on Boracay’s officially approved cadastral survey.
The event was attended by key officials, including Congressman Florencio Miraflores, Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores, Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista and DENR Engineer Victor Veneracion, among others.
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