Reserving a Certain Portion of Land in Diplahan and Siay, Zamboanga del Sur for Settlement Purposes of the MAR

March 14, 1984

PROCLAMATION NO. 2342

AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NO. 284, SERIES OF 1938, AS AMENDED, BY EXCLUDING A PORTION THEREOF CONSISTING OF 2,598 HECTARES SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF DIPLAHAN AND SIAY, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR AND RESERVING THE SAME FOR SETTLEMENT PURPOSES UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION AND DISPOSITION OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRARIAN REFORM

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Bayan of Diplahan and Siay and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Sur and the Executive Officer of the Philippine Australian Development Assistance Program (PADAP) have requested for the release from the coal mining reservation established under Presidential Proclamation No. 284, Series of 1938, as amended by Presidential Proclamation No. 402, Series of 1953, certain portions thereof consisting of 2, 598 hectares situated in Diplahan and Siay, Province of Zamboanga del Sur and reserving the same for settlement purposes under the administration and disposition of the Ministry of Agrarian Reform;

WHEREAS, the Ministry of Energy, thru the Bureau of Energy Development, after geological investigation have found the area requested to have no indication of potential coal deposits and therefore, interposed no objection to its release from the mining reservation for agricultural resettlement project;

WHEREAS, the subject land has been identified and verified by the Regional Resettlement Survey and Review Composite Team of Region IX, Zamboanga City and the National Resettlement Survey and Review Committee to be suitable for an agricultural settlement;

WHEREAS, it is the concern and commitment of the government to provide deserving landless farmers with potentially productive public agricultural lands which they can develop as their own and make it productive with the technical and material assistance of the government in the economic development of the country;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, and upon recommendation of the Minister, Ministry of Agrarian Reform; the Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Energy, do hereby release from the operation of Presidential Proclamation No. 284, Series of 1938, as amended by Presidential Proclamation No. 402, Series of 1953, certain portions thereof consisting of 2,598 hectares, more or less and reserve the same for resettlement purposes under the administration and disposition of the Ministry of Agrarian Reform pursuant to the provisions of R.A. 3844, as amended, subject however, to private rights, if any there be, and to future classification and survey, which areas is more particularly described as follows:

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF SIBUGUEY VALLEY RESETTLEMENT PROJECT

A parcel of land of the public domain situated in the Municipalities of Diplahan and Siay, Province of Zamboanga del Sur; Beginning at point one (1) which is the NW corner point of Coal Block No. 41-N-318 having geographical coordinates: 7º46'00"0 North Latitude and 122º55'30"0 East Longitude located in the Municipality of Imelda, Zamboanga del Sur. From point one (1) this boundary shall run on the bearing of S 89º59'29"6E for distance of 2,757.528 meters to point two (2):

THENCE DUE NORTH 1,804.112 m to point 3

" N 48º33'31" 2 E 2,843.194 m to point 4

" S 89º59'41"9 E 626.384 m to point 5

" DUE SOUTH 4,782.272 m to point 6

" S 33º20'02"1 W 2,330.639 m to point 7

" S 48º49'01"6 W 1,381.944 m to point 8

" N 66º49'04"6 W 3,100.189 m to point 9

" N 28º59' 29"7 W 3,103.486 m to point 10

" S 89º59'29"7 W 1,124.446 m to point 1

which is the point of beginning, containing an approximate area of 2,598. 5881 hectares.

In order to accelerate the development of the area, in accordance with the Area Development Plans and Programs of the Ministry of Agrarian Reform and other government agencies concerned including local government along the concept of agricultural group resettlement, the Ministry of Agrarian Reform is hereby authorized to cut, remove and dispose of the timber stand within the alienable and disposable areas for the development of the settlement and as assistance to settler-beneficiaries, subject however, to the Bureau of Forest Development rules and regulations and its programs on water conservation and land utilization programs of other government agencies concerned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 14th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Four.