BACOLOD City – Environmental advocates have issued a manifesto calling for the protection of the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) against erring structures within its protected area.
The Group of Environmental Socialists (GOES) called for an inter-agency meeting with all concerned government agencies on Thursday mulling the protection of NNNP through the “Pabukid 2019 Manifesto.”
“We call on the concerned government agencies to penalize these environmental violators,” stated on the document.
GOES manifesto also cited vacation houses, restaurants, resorts, and coffee shops operating inside the park without building and business permits violate the Republic Act 6541 or the National Building Code of the Philippines.
The NNNP is part of the largest watershed in Negros Occidental with its unique biophysical and geographical features.
It stretches about 80,454.5 hectares of land covering portions of 11 local government units, including the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay and San Carlos, and the towns of E.B. Magalona, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, and Murcia.
According to GOES, buying and selling of lands by the rich and powerful individuals inside the NNNP is a violation of Sections 20 and 23 of the Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018.
“We call their attention to implement a status quo at NNNP to protect its remaining diminishing forest,” GOES stated. (With a report from PNA/PN)
