By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is ready to demolish illegal structures at the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) in Salvador Benedicto town, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said.
Most of the structures to be taken down are owned by individuals served with cease and desist orders (CDOs), Marañon said.
Eighty-nine people were served with CDOs for putting up structures at the protected area.
No legal impediment can stop the planned demolition, said the governor. These structures are illegal; the area should be a “no-build zone,” he stressed.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Andres Untal said the matter will be referred to the Protected Area Management Board before the demolition takes place.
Salvador Benedicto Mayor Jose Max Ortiz earlier said the demolition of structures at NNNP will put in jeopardy the development of his town.
“We will be left with only two barangays to govern and develop,” Ortiz complained.
Marañon said the Salvador Benedicto municipal government was given 200 hectares for its township.
“Does he (Ortiz) mean to say that he will destroy the remaining forest areas of the province for the sake of development,” he asked.
“We need the forest to protect us from (the impact of) climate change,” Marañon stressed./PN
