By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao (DENR-10) has affirmed the validity of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan’s ownership and development plans for its 64.7-hectare Manresa property, rejecting efforts to nullify the institution’s land title.
In a ruling issued Tuesday, DENR-10 Officer-in-Charge Ronald Gadot found no legal grounds to cancel the university’s title over the 647,211-square-meter property or invalidate its joint venture agreement with Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI).
The decision effectively dismisses a petition filed by the Concerned XU Alumni, Parents, Teachers, and Community Inc. (COPTAC), which challenged the legality of the proposed mixed-use development.
COPTAC had argued that the property was originally granted by the government for educational purposes and therefore should not be converted into a commercial development.
The group cited provisions of the Public Land Act, claiming that the sale and development arrangement violated restrictions attached to the land grant. It also sought the cancellation of the university’s title and the return of the property to state ownership.
However, DENR-10 ruled that the legal provisions invoked by the petitioners no longer apply in the manner claimed.
According to the agency, amendments introduced under Presidential Decree No. 763 removed key restrictions previously imposed under Commonwealth Act No. 141, allowing the university to enter into its current development agreement.
The agency emphasized that no law imposes a perpetual prohibition on the property’s transfer or development beyond its original educational purpose.
The disputed property was acquired by Xavier University through a government grant in 1958. The land was secured under the vision of Jesuit missionary Fr. William Masterson, who viewed the area as vital to the university’s long-term expansion.
University officials have said proceeds from the development will help finance the construction of a modern 21-hectare “Campus of the Future,” intended to serve future generations of students.
At the same time, Xavier University plans to preserve approximately 28 hectares of forested land within the estate as part of its environmental commitments.
The project, known as Masterson Campus and Manresa Town, will combine educational facilities, residential communities, commercial establishments, and green open spaces in a large-scale township development.
Despite the favorable ruling for Xavier University and CLI, COPTAC said it would continue monitoring the project and evaluating possible legal remedies.
University officials and Cebu Landmasters, meanwhile, welcomed the decision, reiterating their position that the property has been legally owned by Xavier University for nearly 70 years.
They also maintained that restrictions attached to the original government grant expired decades ago and no longer limit the institution’s authority over the land.
The DENR ruling clears a major regulatory obstacle for the project, paving the way for the continued development of one of the most ambitious educational and township ventures in Northern Mindanao.
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