City council pushes DENR to void Jaro mangrove homestead patents

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City Council has urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to cancel existing homestead patents in Barangay Bito-on, Jaro, and revert the affected areas to the public domain.

The appeal is contained in two resolutions authored by Councilor Romel Duron, calling on DENR Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla to adopt emergency measures to protect, conserve, and preserve mangrove forests in Bito-on from encroachment by developers and land speculators.

The move follows the alleged anomalous issuance of homestead patents covering at least 50 hectares of mangrove and coastal areas in Barangays Bito-on, Hinactacan, and Balabago.

A City Council investigation found that homestead patents issued to Mercedes Supapo, Serio Calizo Jr., and Alfredo Salcedo Sr. carried the same control numbers as titles previously issued to Donato Juvenes in Negros Occidental, Mamerto Garcia in Cagayan, and Lydia Bonbon in Davao del Norte.

“The investigation reveals a pattern of widespread land fraud involving homestead titles issued in multiple provinces, targeting shoreline properties with mangrove forests,” Duron said.

He cited a similar case in Boracay, Aklan, involving disputed land titles in which the government maintains the land belongs to the public domain.

Duron stressed that mangrove forests are critical ecosystems that act as natural buffers against climate change, support biodiversity, and sustain the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen.

He warned that issuing homestead patents over inalienable land imposes restrictions that threaten local food security and community welfare.

“The DENR should take immediate action to cancel any titles found to be fraudulently issued and institute measures to protect the mangrove forests,” Duron said.

The resolutions also urge the DENR to declare the mangrove forests in Barangay Bito-on as protected areas and to implement emergency measures to prevent further encroachment.

The council further called on the DENR to review existing policies and procedures to ensure the sustainable management and protection of mangrove ecosystems.

It also urged DENR Region 6 to fast-track its investigation into the issuance of homestead patents covering mangrove areas in Barangay Bito-on.

Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda earlier raised the issue through a privilege speech in the House of Representatives, citing possible local collusion or negligence at City Hall despite the patents originating from different DENR regional offices.

Baronda did not specify which city government office should have detected the irregularities during the assessment or clearance process.

Homestead patents are issued by DENR regional offices after verifying land occupancy and classification and are registered with the Registry of Deeds, which assigns a unique Original Certificate of Title number to ensure nationwide uniqueness.

At the local level, the City Assessor’s Office is tasked with verifying property documents, including the authenticity of patents and title control numbers, before issuing tax declarations or clearances.

Baronda said the House Committee on Rules has yet to designate which committee will handle the investigation, adding that she has requested the hearing be held in Iloilo City.