THE Department of Public Lands has asked Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc. to coordinate its efforts in maintaining the area with a government entity.
The group’s president, David SN Muna, is requesting DPL to “designate” Sugar Dock to the organization “for the purpose of maintaining…the Sugar Dock area and hosting [activities that involve] traditional fishing, culinary arts, weaving and performing arts.”
Muna said these are among the activities that Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc. would like to hold regularly in the area once it is chartered as a nonprofit organization.
In her reply to Muna, DPL Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo said DPL acknowledges the organization’s “noble and commendable” efforts to utilize and beautify the Sugar Dock area.
However, she said, DPL is unable to issue a “grant of public domain” to areas within 150 feet of the high water mark. The law, she added, prohibits DPL from transferring any interest in public shoreline.
She said DPL is also unable to issue a grant of public domain to a nonprofit organization directly.
But the department is allowed to issue a grant of public domain to government entities, which may have operating agreements with nonprofit organizations to ensure that it serves a public purpose.
“Therefore, we recommend that you coordinate your efforts with a government entity for your proposed activity,” Concepcion-Teregeyo said.
The officers of Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc., which was chartered in January 2021, are David SN Muna, president; Ray Cabrera, vice president; Terry Iginoef, secretary; Raymond U. Palacios, treasurer; John Castro, public information officer; and Bill Ada, chairman of the board.
Their consultants are Herman Cabrera and Martin Ada.
Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo
