CHURCHILL AGUILAR
“From The Roadside”
I recently transferred residence to Barangay Bonbon, just a short walk from my favorite stretch of shoreline. The move was exciting because living near the sea has always been my dream. Morning walks on the sand, the sound of waves, and the calm that only the ocean can bring. Raagas Beach, in particular, holds deep personal meaning. As someone born in Bukidnon, it was here that I first experienced the sea. It is also close to our ancestral home, and every summer in my elementary years I spent mornings under the sun, learning to swim and building memories that shaped my childhood. Those recollections made my transfer all the more meaningful.
That is why it was deeply disappointing to discover that the shoreline is no longer freely accessible. One can no longer pass through to the beach without going through a gate and paying an entrance fee. The access road that once connected directly to the shore has been blocked by a fence. While the entrance fee may appear affordable, the setup itself raises serious concerns. This is also true to most of the beaches in the city not just in Raagas Beach. Such practice appears inconsistent with Philippine laws governing shorelines and public access.
Under Article 420 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, shores are classified as property of public dominion, meaning they are intended for public use and cannot be privately owned or restricted for exclusive access. Similarly, Presidential Decree No. 1067 (The Water Code of the Philippines) provides that riverbanks, shores, and similar areas are subject to public use and that easements must be respected to allow public access. The law recognizes that coastlines are part of the national patrimony and must remain accessible to the public. These provisions exist precisely to ensure that natural resources, especially beaches, remain open to all Filipinos regardless of social status.
This situation therefore calls for the attention of the Barangay Captain of Bonbon and barangay officials. How did this restriction escape monitoring? Why was a public access road blocked? These are questions that deserve answers. The shoreline exists for everyone, and no business interest should curtail that right.
It is understandable for a resort to charge fees for the use of cottages, amenities, or private facilities. That is a legitimate business practice. However, blocking access to the shoreline itself or closing traditional access routes crosses a different line. At the very least, a right of way should be provided for those who simply wish to enjoy the beach without using resort amenities. If the obstruction of the access road was not initiated by the resort, then arrangements should still be made to preserve free passage to the shore.
There is also the possibility that the entrance fee is being collected by the barangay. If that is the case, official receipts or tickets must be issued in accordance with auditing and transparency requirements. When I last entered, no official receipt was provided. Even then, collection of fees should not eliminate the public’s right to pass through and access the shoreline.
We often criticize corruption at the national level such as ghost projects and misuse of confidential funds. Yet in our own communities, smaller practices can also deprive the public of what is rightfully theirs. Even if the amount collected per person is small, restricting access to a public shoreline effectively denies citizens their lawful right to enjoy common natural resources.
I respectfully urge both the barangay officials and the city officials to look into this matter. Let us restore lawful access, uphold public rights, and ensure that our shores remain what they are meant to be: open, shared, and accessible to all. The gifts of nature should never be locked behind a gate.
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