City Administrator William Ablong is suggesting vertical development planning for the urban areas of Dumaguete City rather than compromise agricultural areas that are the city's source of food production and that he would rather declare these rural areas classified as agricultural lands as “no touch” zones.

Ablong, also the City Agriculture Officer, said many outskirts barangays in Dumaguete are being converted already from agricultural to residential and/or commercial classification.

There must be a specific and clear boundary between urban development and the rural communities to prevent unnecessary loss of agricultural lands that would be providing the city with food security, he said.

He said Dumaguete City already has a Comprehensive Land Use Plan but unfortunately, it is still pending approval by the Negros Oriental Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

He said land classified as agricultural cannot be utilized for residential or commercial purposes unless otherwise having gone through the proper procedure, such as land conversion.

He cited the case of the proposed construction of a hospital in Barangay Daro in the city proper where, after so much deliberation, the project was approved in that residential part of the city.*JFP

back to top