BOLINAO, Pangasinan – A composite Asset and Management Team (AMT) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region- I (DENR- I) led by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) of Pangasinan, Maximo F. Soriano Jr., CENR Officer of Western Pangasinan- Chester O. Casil, DENR- I Legal team include Atty. Fidel De Vera and Atty. Santiago L. Pagaddut, initiated the official and peaceful take- over of the massive salt farm due to expired Foreshore Lease Contract (FLC) situated in Barangay Zaragoza, Bolinao, Pangasinan and presently managed by the Pacific Farm Inc. (PFI). The DENR- I AMT initiated the take-over on February 26, 2021 in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) of Bolinao, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Zaragoza Barangay Council.

FLC is an agreement between the DENR and the applicant which contains specific terms and conditions as stated in the DENR Administrative Order No. 99- 34. A 25- year FLC was first issued on December 1, 1955 to November 30, 1980 by DENR to the Insular Farm Inc. with a subject area of approximately 473.8880 hectares. The Leasehold Rights of the said salt farm was then transferred and approved in favour of the Pacific Farm Inc. on March 31, 1958 which then renewed for another 25 years on June 23, 1977 and eventually expired on June 22, 2002. Foreshore Lease is granted by the State to a qualified applicant covering foreshore lands, marshy lands and other lands bordering bodies of water for commercial, industrial or other productive purposes other than agriculture. The lease runs a duration of 25 years and renewable for another 25 years.

The DENR- AMT first made an ocular inspection of the salt farm in the area and installed printed tarps informing the public that the area is under the DENR administration before a meeting via zoom was between DENR- I Regional Executive Director Atty. Crizaldy M. Barcelo, Atty. Pagaddut and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) took place at the CENRO Western Pangasinan Office in Alaminos City. The meeting aims to scrutinize and discuss the next actions to be undertaken by the AMT and to tackle the management of the raw salt ready for harvesting in March, 2021 and the harvested raw salt ready for transport. A formal turn-over ceremony followed at the PFI Office between the DENR-I team and PFI management headed by Operational Manager Gerard Khong Hun. Also present was Bolinao Municipal Mayor Alfonso F. Celeste and Zaragoza Barangay Captain. Mayor Celeste in his message, supported and recognized the DENR take- over of the PFI- managed salt farm in his municipality of which he valued the economic benefits and job opportunities for his constituents. Likewise, PENRO Soriano expressed his gratitude to the PFI for their full cooperation and read the memorandum from the DENR- I head executive dated January 28, 2021 and the Court Order dated February 24, 2021 from Quezon City RTC Branch -101 Presiding Judge Evangeline C. Castillo- Marigomen. Atty. De Vera of DENR- I Legal Division, interpreted later the legal bases of the take- over.

Further, PFI head Mr. Khong Hun gave a brief orientation to the DENR- AMT regarding the utilization of the salt farm including the number of workforce of about 500 individuals and equipment considering the 7,000, 000 kilos of harvestable salt for the months of March to June, 2021. PENRO Soriano also turned over the result of the conducted inventory of assets/ improvements inside the expired FLC. A short conference took place between the DENR- AMT and the management of the PFI after the turn-over in which Mr. Khong Hun reiterated his request regarding the tons of salt due for harvest by the succeeding months and the “said harvests shall pay the 500 farm workers.” Atty. De Vera however, clarified that Hun’s proposal is not in the AMT’s hand to approve and it was suggested that the salt farm company will send a formal letter and will be forwarded to the higher office. Hence, both parties agreed that for the meantime, the proceeds of the sale be put into an escrow account until the result of the pending case at the court be completed. The DENR also informed the company that a team shall be deployed in the salt farm site to monitor the turned- over area of which the company agreed. (𝐑𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐆/ 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐎 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧)