By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — The Protected Area Management Board’s (PAMB) technical working group stood firm on its recommendation to demolish illegal structures at the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP).
Comprising 11 local government environment officers and representatives of nongovernment organizations, the 38-strong group reiterated its recommendations in a meeting at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall yesterday.
The group earlier presented its recommendations during a PAMB meeting on April 10.
But the PAMB also approved a resolution creating an ad hoc committee composed of mayors of local governments that share portions of the forest — Cadiz, Victorias, Sagay, Silay, San Carlos and Talisay cities, and Murcia, EB Magalona, Toboso, Calatrava and Salvador Benedicto towns.
The ad hoc committee was tasked to come up with another set of recommendations on the use of lands in the protected area.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Andres Untal said the technical working group will submit its recommendations to the ad hoc committee.
“If there would be differences between the two bodies, [their members] shall meet to discuss and harmonize themselves,” Untal said.
He said among the technical working group’s recommendations are the following:
- Good-performing holders of certificates of stewardship contracts (CSC) will be issued certificates of eligibility for renewal.
- Areas with cancelled CSCs and those not eligible for renewal will be reverted to the protected area and be managed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ General Management Plan.
- The 200-hectare area will be included in the NNNP as buffer zone and will form part of the town site, and Salvador Benedicto shall prepare a site development plan to be approved by the PAMB. Through the PAMB, the Sangguniang Bayan could impose user’s fee, leases and zoning with several conditions.
- Illegal occupants should vacate and illegal structures should be demolished (with PAMB approval) in accordance with Articles 449, 450 and 451 of the Civil Code of the Philippines and Section 21 of Republic Act 7586.
- Illegal structures outside the hazard zone shall be for public use, as may be determined by the PAMB.
- Owners of habitation and other structures within the hazard zone shall vacate, as per Republic Act 10121, or face the consequences.
Salvador Benedicto Mayor Jose Max Ortiz proposed the creation of the ad hoc committee./PN
