Matugas-owned Siargao Bleu Resort and Spa, positioned in a protected space, has undertaken reclamation increasing the resort property prior to now decade as seen from satellite tv for pc photographs spanning the years 2012 to 2022.
Siargao Bleu Resort and Spa is positioned in Barangay Catangnan, Common Luna, and is thought to be one of many prime luxurious resorts within the island. Common Luna is a part of the Siargao Islands Protected Panorama and Seascape (SIPLAS).
“From the satellite tv for pc information examined, there’s in depth improvement within the space,” Roel dela Cruz, engineer on the Philippine House Company, informed Rappler. “Parts previously displaying water surfaces at the moment are coated with land and vegetation.”
Dela Cruz stated it’s “advisable” to seek the advice of with the Division of Setting and Pure Sources (DENR) relating to the reclamation detected “as this positively requires permission.”
Reclamation is mostly not allowed in protected areas, although not explicitly acknowledged within the regulation. What does the DENR say on this regard? “In no case shall protected areas be subjected to reclamation,” 2018 tips from the division say. The DENR defines protected areas as “recognized parts of land and water put aside below the NIPAS system (Nationwide Built-in Protected Areas System) which might be closed to reclamation.”
The protected space administration workplace (PAMO) of SIPLAS has recognized reclamation as one of many threats to the island’s mangrove cowl. PAMO noticed that coastal improvement within the protected island is undertaken both by native governments or non-public people who personal land.
“In Siargao, regardless of [it] being a protected space, embankment in [the] seagrass space can nonetheless be noticed, undertaken largely by native authorities models,” PAMO famous in its administration plan. “Others had been facilitated by people being the proprietor or claimant of the adjoining space.”
Linked to Matugas clan
Siargao Bleu is owned by Emmylou “Melot” Matugas-Abejo, the daughter of Elizabeth Matugas, the mayor of Dapa, Surigao del Norte. The resort operates below Emaland Leisure, Parks, and Resorts Inc. Emaland was fashioned in 2009, in keeping with the resort’s web site, and development began 2011. They opened in 2015.
Elizabeth Matugas herself served as company secretary of Emaland, in keeping with the corporate’s normal info sheet (GIS) submitted in July 2025 to the Securities and Trade Fee. A sure Lani Jean Matugas can be listed as one among its administrators.
The corporate amended its GIS in November 2025, with Elizabeth Matugas now not listed as its company secretary. The modification comes a month after a Rappler report discovered that contractor Boometrix Growth Company, a agency which Elizabeth Matugas was an incorporator and a shareholder of, secured P10 billion value of infrastructure contracts in Surigao del Norte prior to now decade.
Siargao is the Matugas dynasty’s stronghold. Elizabeth is the sister of Surigao del Norte 1st District Consultant Francisco “Lalo” Matugas who was lately indicted by the Workplace of the Ombudsman for diverting P60 million in calamity funds. Siargao Bleu proprietor Emmylou Matugas-Abejo ran as Common Luna mayor within the 2025 elections however misplaced to Johnson Sajulga, reportedly backed by the Barbers household, rival political dynasty of the Matugas clan.
Melot has used Siargao Bleu as a base for campaign-related actions. The resort was one of many pit stops for a enjoyable run (“Group Melot: Run for the Future”) promoted with Melot and her vice mayor on the poster. A medical outreach program in January organized by “Group Melot” was held within the resort.
The resort administration prides itself as being key to the transformation of Siargao into the booming vacationer hub it’s in the present day. “This has been the corporate’s honor as we’ve got contributed to the attractive adjustments in Siargao Island as the most important high-end resort to this date 2023,” the corporate says in its web site.
Bingo Matugas, son of Lalo Matugas, stated the resort space doesn’t have to be reclaimed as a result of the resort already has a rocky beachfront.
“Bakit sinusulat ‘nyo ‘yung reclamation?” Matugas informed Rappler in a telephone name. “Kasi ang alam ko – diyan ako lumaki – ano ‘yang lugar na ‘yan eh, bato ‘yan eh. Hindi siya kailangang i-reclaim. Kasi when you have a look at the Google Maps, lahat ng katabing resort niyan puro bato ‘yung beachfront. Hindi siya sandy.”
(Why are you writing about reclamation? What I do know — as a result of I grew up there — that space is rocky. It doesn’t have to be reclaimed. As a result of when you have a look at the Google Maps, all of the resorts beside it have rocky beachfronts. It’s not sandy.)
Bingo Matugas clarified that he was not talking on behalf of the resort however in his personal private capability.
In accordance with geoscientist Narod Eco, nevertheless, the shoreline’s attribute — whether or not it’s sandy or rocky — is inappropriate.“ Trying on the satellite tv for pc imagery, the resort seems to have encroached and expanded into the close by physique of water,” Eco informed Rappler in a message. “That’s reclamation, even by authorities definition.”
The federal government defines reclamation as “a deliberate strategy of changing foreshore land, submerged areas or our bodies of water into land by filling or different means utilizing dredge fill and different appropriate supplies for particular functions.”
We referred to as the resort’s landline on Friday, December 19, however had been informed that the supervisor was busy on the time and that they might name us again. Our second name the identical day was not acquired. We referred to as once more on Monday, December 22, however had been informed the particular person in cost was in a gathering.
| Municipality | Coastal barangay | Protection of reclaimed mangrove space for coastal improvement |
| Dapa | Don Paulino | 4,418 |
| Union | 1,670 | |
| Sta. Fe | 5,497 | |
| San Benito | San Juan | 1,818 |
| Sta. Monica | T-Arlan | 1,394 |
| Common Luna | Catangnan | 936 |
| San Isidro | Del Carmen (Pob.) | 2,245 |
Is there a violation?
Laws may very well be hazy. Whereas tips from the DENR would say in any other case, reclamation is permitted if allowed by the involved protected space administration workplace, in keeping with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
“Within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, the PAMB [protected area management board] doesn’t permit reclamation actions throughout the protected space,” Joseph Literal, assistant normal supervisor on the PRA, informed Rappler, citing an instance.
But when allowed by the protected space administration workplace, the proponent ought to first safe a letter of no objection (LONO) or endorsement, stated Literal. “[A]ny reclamation throughout the SIPLAS shall have a LONO or endorsement from the SIPLAS PAMB.”
“The rule is proscribed improvement in accordance with the eNIPAs,” Literal stated. “The requirement applies to all developments throughout the protected space.”
The endorsement from the Protected Space Administration Board is a definite requirement from the final strategy of purposes to reclaim. Every protected space has a PAMB and the board has oversight powers over the protected space.
That is how the appliance course of for reclamation often goes: the applicant (or proponent of the reclamation mission) submits a letter of intent to the PRA. In the event that they move the PRA’s pre-qualification evaluation, they enter a memorandum of understanding with the PRA. The applicant applies for an space clearance from the DENR, which entails submitting an impression research to the setting administration bureau. As soon as the applicant fulfills all different necessities and the PRA board approves, they’re given discover to proceed. Precise reclamation works can begin.
We contacted the DENR regional workplace and the SIPLAS PAMO by e-mail final December 17 and adopted up December 22, however we’ve but to obtain a response.
As a precedent in SIPLAS, one other resort in Siargao that was reported to have reclaimed land is being investigated for potential forfeiture. The federal government can forfeit illegally reclaimed land with out want of judicial motion.
In accordance with Literal, the PRA does web site inspections quarterly and displays alleged unlawful reclamation by satellite tv for pc imagery. They obtain referrals from the regional workplaces of the setting division, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Sources, and native authorities models.
Environmental lawyer Liza Eisma-Osorio stated reclamation in protected areas reveals “traditional failure of regulatory our bodies.”
“Even when that’s solely a division order, that may be enforced,” Osorio informed Rappler, referring to the 2018 tips.
“They’ll select to not challenge an environmental compliance certificates. The PRA must be certain by that and never give a allow to proceed with the reclamation. My assumption is that the resort doesn’t have a allow in any respect. That’s what often occurs, proper? They don’t have a allow, it’s unlawful reclamation. It turns into topic to authorities forfeiture.”
In accordance with the PRA, the involved administration board is the one which imposes a separate penalty for unlawful reclamation throughout the protected space, with fines starting from P5,000 to P500,000. – Rappler.com
