The
municipality of Kalayaan is an urbanizing agricultural
and watershed town.
Through agriculture is considered as a major livelihood
activity and land use in the municipality, encroachment
of urban activities is very evident. Emerging trends
or pattern of development with in the municipality,
specifically in its barangay show increasing potentials
fo urbanization.
The current gross residential area density of 141 persons
per hectares, with Longos having a density of 268 person
per hectares shows urbanizing trends.
The available
lands and the towns absorptive capacity supports the
urban functions of the area. Urbanizable lands which
refer to areas still available for urban expansion which
are found to be suitable for urban uses at varying degrees
based on soil suitability studies (Chapter on Natural
Features) is eliminated at 2,684 hectares. Absorptive
capacity which refers to the capacity of an area to
accommodate anticipated increases in population and
the corresponding growth in settlements vis-à-vis
available urbanizable lands base on a standard of 150
persons per hectares for low density areas is eliminated
at 402,600 persons. Thus, the projected population of
21,098 and 44,267 for year 2000 and 2010 respectively
can very well accommodated. In-migration is also a possibility.
The inherent soil suitability to agricultural crop production
can still supports said much population.
The municipality
is a potential tourist destination forming part of the
Caliraya Lake Tourism Circuit. There are already some
existing tourism establishments in the areas adjacent
to Caliraya Lake. The windy cool breeze on the eastern
upper portion of the municipality over looking the Laguna
de Bay and some parts of Laguna province and even portion
of Metro Manila makes the town a favorite resting place
from the Metropolis. The proximity to Metro Manila and
the relative secrecy and serenity of the place afford
urban dwellers a good place to relax and recharge. Those
factors are also conductive to making the town a "retirement
village" or a place to settle for elder lies and
those wanting for peace and serenity. The tourists may
then be lived to stay and live in the municipality.
Those developments should have corresponding physical
or land allocation for the future.
The presents
of power projects in the area under the National Power
Corporation makes the municipality a major power contribution
to the development efforts of the government at present,
to the Philippines 2000 and even beyond. The vacant
lands presently owned by the NPC will contribute to
the provision of electric or power services to the industrialization
tourist of the country. The presents of a major input
to industrial development may entice industrial expansion
in the municipality.
The potential
for industrial development in the municipality includes
availability of power, water, raw materials such as
agricultural and forest products, accessibility to Metro
Manila markets and available labor.
The municipality
is an environmentally critical area. The towns location
vis-à-vis Laguna de Bay and Lake Caliraya, its
rolling terrain and it being apart of the forest reserve
makes it a watershed area as delineated by the Bureau
of Forest Development and Laguna Lake Development Authority.
However, at present the once forested areas are denuded
and some parts have degenerated and deteriorated to
marginal lands covered for grasses, cogon or a few trees.
This is essentially due to improper forests management
practices particularly illegal logging. To date only
those lands having slopes of 18% and above are considered
as forest areas. These are mostly at the eastern most
tip of the municipality.
The coastal
areas of the municipality along the shores of the Laguna
de Bay and Caliraya Lake are another critical ecosystem
in the municipality. It has approximately 63 kil. of
shoreline towards its western and southeastern border
along the eastern bay of the Laguna Lake and north western
coast of Caliraya lake respectively. Presently these
coastal areas are being tapped for marginal fishing,
recreational and coastal agricultural activities. This
zone extends 200 m. lake ward and at the average, 650
m. in land, coinciding with the establish flood-plain
boundary.
The very
good land suited for agricultural activity and sites
of the irrigated rice lands are also critical ecosystems.
These are the main agricultural areas of the municipality
which is the backbone of its economic activity. These
lands serve as the food basket not only of the municipality
but also the neighboring settlements. These are situated
at the central portion of the municipality.
The municipality being a lake shore town of Laguna de
Bay is under the jurisdiction of a special government
agencies undertaking the management and administration
of the lake. The Laguna Lake Development Authority exercises
jurisdiction over land areas and other regulatory measures
in the use of the Lake and in the Lake shore town's.
It has lately been included in a Commission undertaking
planning for the Laguna de Bay and Makiling Reserved
Areas in the province of Laguna de Bay is under jurisdiction
of special government agency undertaking the manage
and the administration of the lake. The Laguna Lake
Development Authority exercises jurisdiction over the
land areas and other regulatory measures in the use
of the lake and in the lake shore towns. It has lately
been included in a Commission undertaking planning for
the Laguna de Bay and Makiling Reserved areas in provinces
of Laguna, Quezon and Batangas. The municipality is
also part of the CALABARZON planning area . The CALABARZON
plan takes cognizance of the role of the municipality
within the Laguna de Bay and Makiling Reserved Area.
In all these plans the municipality is considered as
an agricultural and environmentally viatal town in this
part of province, the region end the country as well.
There
is a need then for municipality to respond to the challenges
of the development for the future. It shall be able
to exploit the municipality's potential and develop
to the fullest for the population. However, any development
must be sustainable, thus a development is warranted.
The municipality must be able to balance urbanization
with agriculture and forestry activities both economic
and ecological aspect, thereby utilizing and preserving
at the same time the natural resources, assuring a sustainable
developing and providing adequate and responsive social
services delivery system to its populace.
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