Seven Small Lakes’ Mandatory Easement Discussion

This mandatory easement is crucial because unrestrained littoral structures typically jeopardize the water environment and tourism development. Regulating the seven maar lakes’ easements has long been regarded as fundamental; however, it remains a work in progress. This paper discusses the littoral shore easement of the Seven Small Lakes and the current structures to understand the broader context. The inferences are as follows: (1) Yambo Lake, Pandin Lake, Mohicap Lake, and Sampaloc Lake have implemented and administered their mandatory easement. Yambo Lake, Pandin Lake, and Mohicap Lake have long-standing resolutions, and Sampaloc Lake has addressed the man-made structures around the littoral zone. Thus, the remaining step is to refine the regulatory easement and, most importantly, maintain it to prevent recurrence. (2) Palakpakin Lake, Calibato Lake, and Bunot Lake still need to complete their mandatory easements. These three maar lakes face a persistent impediment, as informal settlements and man-made structures surround the littoral zone. Thus, the only way to achieve this is to emphasize and complete the regulatory easement as early as possible. (3) The Lake Authority and City Government must enforce the mandatory easement and promptly obtain the funds, in accordance with the Zoning and Management Plan, the Development and Management Plan, and the Tourism Master Plan. The small lake’s easements depend on the authorities’ leverage and financial resources to remove structures and resettle residents. Thus, this resettlement proposal is long overdue, and the authorities must bring it to fruition.