BY EUGENE Y.ADIONG
BACOLOD City – The violators of the status quo order issued by the Protected Area Management Bureau (PAMB) to stop the construction of structures within the North Negros Natural Park (NNNP) were from this city, according to Don Salvador Benedicto’s Mayor Jose Max Ortiz.
Ortiz yesterday said that based on the investigation of his office, there were still individuals who continued to build structures inside the NNNP.
The mayor, however, refused to identify them.
“When the continued defiance of the PAMB status quo order was reported to me, I immediately went to the area and scolded the owners,” Ortiz said.
The defiance of these people were “an insult to Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr., the members of the PAMB and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),” he said.
Ortiz and Murcia’s Mayor Andrew Montelibano were among those issued a cease and desist order by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) over the constructed structures inside the NNNP.
The PAMB, in a resolution on April 10, issued a status quo order over all construction activities inside the NNNP until it had formulated clear guidelines./PN
