THE House Committee on Natural Resources has approved a bill declaring the Kalayaan Group of Islands as alienable and disposable land for agricultural, residential and commercial purposes. Kalayaan Island Group offers rich fishing grounds and contains significant oil and natural gas reserves. Alvarez said the municipality of Kalayaan is in the process of making new projects to promote tourism for the island group. Once the bill is passed into law, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be mandated to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Salvador Melchor Mison Jr. said the military has development plans for the nine Kalayaan Group of Islands amounting to P11.6 billion.

Source: Manila Times December 26, 2017 16:18 UTC