01 April 2022, from Gems:

Dear Fellow Lot Owners: 

Finally, it happened. Last Friday, 01 April 2022, two weeks after the signing of the lifting orders by new DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna on 16 March 2022, one month after our courtesy call on him on 01 March 2022, four months after former DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu committed to help us last December to get our deeds of sale in six months, and 17 years after a former Secretary inexplicably suspended our dreams, the processing of AFPOVAI Phase 678 lot applications has officially resumed. 

The moment occurred Friday afternoon at the end of the 5th JTF meeting held at the AFPOVAI Main Office, when DENR decided to process the first ten (10) fully paid lot owners with orders of awards on short notice if only to show their determination to meet their outstanding obligation. However, only eight lot owners made it.  

The meeting also marked the first time the JTF held a face-to-face interaction, in contrast to all previous virtual exchanges, which allowed the members to clarify several issues, including the interpretation of the lifting orders, its step-by-step implementation, the status of our applications, our payment modes, and other requirements.  

“Mas magandang nasimulan na ito para matapos na,” quipped Atty Alvin Constantino, who acknowledged that it has indeed taken a long time. 

As planned, the event was carried out through a one-stop shop (OTS) approach in coordination with the LMB and NCR DENR, who sent their key personnel, including investigators, from QC in order to expedite the process. 

We were, of course, overjoyed. Finally, after the long hard struggle of those who dared to stake our claim (physically, in the case of some) and those numerous calls on the highest authorities as well as pursuit of legal actions, and following our single-minded and sustained focus on the administrative process, the gate has irreversibly opened. The first fully qualified and available claimants, whose records were verified and validated first by DENR, were let through. And this time, mindful, methodical, expeditious one-day processing – done in our presence in one place without any intermediaries or agents – has resumed. The spirit behind our applications has stirred back to life. Intent and instructions have met with corresponding actions. 

To cap the lengthy 20-step process and meet certain other requirements, particularly the submission of photos of lot owners beside their properties – a condition impossible to meet – the DENR side gave us slack by allowing the taking of photos in the vicinity of the golf course. Revisiting the area together with an investigator, one lot owner recalled the early days when they had to do a lightning strike there, only to be stopped and restrained by the Marines. He admitted that he thought the day would never come.  Some others were in guarded celebratory mood, while an aging lot owner, who came assisted by his son and daughter-in-law, somberly reflected on former comrades who had departed, waiting in vain. 

On last week’s April Fool’s day when we least expected DENR’s move, we got the most out of it, not only with an assured deed of sale in a few months for the first eight who responded, but a guaranteed hope for the rest of us in the coming few weeks.  

While the OTS itself revealed several key aspects (e.g. in terms of spacing, sequencing and systematic processing) that still need to be improved, we were happy to pull it off in less than 2 hours after lunch. We definitely wish to thank JTF CO-Chair Engineer Ignacio Almira, Atty Alvin Constantino and their DENR personnel for taking the time and effort to deploy their team to AFPOVAI last week. And I commend and thank as well our own side who showed up in full force, with AFPOVAI President Art Abadilla no less serving as the perfect host and the indefatigable and unretiring Commo Tony Suratos among them, still sharing his wisdom. 

With this development, there is no more turning back. We have just been brought to the point of no return, in a most providential sense. No more return to uncertainty. To disillusion. To dispossession. To disempowerment. To despair. We have just begun our passage in an orderly column. Let us remain connected and quietly active. And let us anticipate what we need to do. What we do to prepare well for our own turn during the processing will help us all get through in the limited time given us.  

We will inform everyone on further details. But due to the Lenten Season and intervening schedules on DENR’s side, the next OTS will be on 22 April 2022.  But have no worries, the proper JTF staff will contact you well before your turn comes. 

Advanced blessed Holy Week to everyone.