Defeating Marañon’s move by 34-11 votes PAMB: No demolition of illegal structures at NNNP

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – After two hours of deliberation during Tuesday’s meeting at the Capitol, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) ruled, by a vote of 34-11 and one abstention, not to demolish the illegal structures on the protected zone at the Northern Negros Natural Park in Don Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental.

The PAMB vote “killed” the recommendation of the technical working group to demolish the illegal structures, as also endorsed by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr , Andres Untal, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resouces Office, and Ramon Peñalosa, head of the Provincial Environment and Management Office.

As this developed, Marañon, who is also PAMB chairman, became very emotional, lamenting that the NNNP is “the last frontier of our environmental protection.” Owners of the illegal structures were the rich and the powerful and that they wanted to take what was left for the poor, he said.

Six mayors, all PAMB members, voted “no” against the demolition of the illegal structures at the NNNP. They were Mayors Andrew Montelibano of Murcia town, Jose Max Ortiz (Don Salvador Benedicto), Gerardo Valmayor Jr. (San Carlos City), Araceli Samosa (Calatrava), Eric Saratan (Talisay City) and Jose Montelibano (Silay City).

Others who voted down the recommendation of the TWG and Marañon were 27 chairpersons of the villages in DSB, Murcia and Calatrava towns and the cities of Silay, Victorias and San Carlos City, as well as two tribal councils of indigenous people in DSB and Calatrava towns.

Majority of those who voted “no” insisted that the TWG recommendation was not clearly presented, claiming further that local government units should submit their respective Forest Land Use Plan for PAMB approval.

A representative from One Negros group abstained from voting, saying that he was against the illegal structures but then the recommendation of the TWG needed further study.

Marañon said, “We, in the government, should penalized those (practicing) illegal acts,” insisting that the structures encroaching into the natural park were illegal. He also lamented that the indigenous people, who voted “no” did not actually understand the issue, and people only wanted to destroy the forest at NNNP.

Mayor Montelibano however insisted they are not destroying the forests. “We will abide by the NIPAs Act, as 60 percent of the land is for reforestation, while 40 percent is intended for agriculture.” He said Marañon only heard one side of the issue. “We want to meet with TWG but no meeting was set. We feel bad because it seems that we’re the bad guys here.”

The governor then retorted to the mayor: “I was only explaining my side. You were given to explain yours.” After the meeting was adjourned, he refused to talk to reporters.

“The people has spoken,” Montelibano said, noting that, “it’s only right to respect the decision,” as they will also respect the results of the votes if these went the other way. The TWG “can’t decide for everybody,” he said, and that there will be no status quo from this point on. The construction of the structures, stopped by a cease and desist order against 90 “encroachers,” will now resume.

Mayor Ortiz, for his part, insisted that there will be no demolition of the structures because they won in the voting, adding that politics have nothing to do with their decision to disapprove the TWG recommendation. “If the areas are good for ecotourism, it should be devolved to the LGUs.”

Untal of PENRO said his group was never against development, but it was wrong that structures are built on the NNNP without permits. He added that he will raise the issue to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and DENR-7 Director Jim Sampulna.