DOTr denies harassment of tenant at the Kalibo International Airport

DOTr Aviation Sector Press Statement

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have been made aware of a viral video circulating regarding an apparent dispute over a property in Kalibo, Aklan, that has been appropriated and intended for expansion purposes of the Kalibo Airport Development Project. For the record, the said property in question, consisting of 4,698 sq. meters of farmland, is originally owned by Miss Marlene de la Rosa.

It has already been acquired by the DOTr, through the Provincial Government of Aklan, after being subjected to regular government acquisition and procurement process. We are most certain that said land acquisition went through the rigorous legal process that enabled us to already obtain and bear the land title under the name of the DOTr.

We note that the said property is classified as a farmland with no improvements, and the re-classification for commercial/industrial purpose is currently being undertaken. It should be noted that in compliance with the prevailing law, the Provincial Government of Aklan has already settled 50% of the mutually-agreed property value, with the second and final payment balance of the property already for release after the voluntary surrender of the property by the legitimate lot owner.

This is as per established legal procedures on site acquisition. As for the affected farmer tenants of the said property, the PGU of Aklan, together with DOTr and CAAP, are in close coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), which is now also evaluating the case, including the formal relief sought by one German Baltazar, who is supposedly an unregistered or implied farmer tenant (a tenant with no formal lease arrangement with property owner). It is quite unfortunate that by his actions and actuations, Mr. Baltazar is impeding the completion of the land purchase in favor of the government, for it to pursue the needed and essential infrastructure development program. And by preventing and obstructing the Government in securing the said property,

Mr. Baltazar is in fact also preventing the completion of payment to the rightful owner, Ms Dela Rosa. We fully acknowledge the issues raised by Mr Baltazar, and as in all other site acquisition process that we have undertaken, the DOTr will always seek resolution of the matter that will be fair to all, and one in which national interest will be pursued, invoked and upheld.