19 establishments cited for illegally operating in Mt. Apo’s protected zones
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 16 July)—The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources in the Davao Region (DENR-Davao) has issued cease and desist orders to 19 commercial establishments operating illegally within the protected zones of Mount Apo Natural Park.
Lawyer Ma. Mercedes V. Dumagan, regional executive director of DENR-Davao, said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday that the agency requires strict compliance with environmental laws, particularly in the areas that are within the strict protection zones (SPZ) where development activities are prohibited.
According to DENR Administrative Order No. 25, SPZ covers “areas with high bio-diversity value which shall be close to all human activity except for scientific studies and/or ceremonial or religious use by indigenous communities.”
Dumagan added that the agency ordered closed the erring establishments consisting of resorts, coffeeshops, and restaurants that were operating within these strict protected zones.
She claimed that resorts and commercial establishments started proliferating in Mount Apo at the height of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic during which time movement was strictly regulated to prevent the spread of the virus.
“During the pandemic, we had limited access to the area, especially because there were restrictions, and we had limited manpower. It was just recently that we conducted thorough inventory of the existing structures,” she said.
Dumagan added that they have been strictly monitoring these areas in Mount Apo to make sure that there will be no new infrastructures that will be constructed in protected zones.
She said that the agency has also coordinated with local officials of the municipality of Bansalan and Digos City in Davao del Sur in crafting legislation that will prohibit the issuance of business permits without first securing clearance from the Protected Area Management Board.
In a memorandum dated March 26, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga suspended the authority of the regional offices of DENR to approve environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) within the protected areas.
It said all pending and future ECC applications for projects within the protected areas shall be submitted to the Environment Management Bureau-Central Office for final review and approval and an additional license clearance from the Biodiversity Management Bureau shall be required.
It said that ECCs of environmentally critical projects require clearance of the Secretary or her duly authorized representative.
Dumagan said, meanwhile, that commercial activities, including eco-tourism, may be allowed only in multiple-use zones.
Under DENR Administrative Order No. 25, multiple-use zones are areas “where settlement, traditional and/or sustainable land use, including agriculture, agroforestry, extraction activities and other income generating or livelihood activities, may be allowed to the extent prescribed in the management plan.”
It added that “land tenure may be granted to tenured residents, whether indigenous cultural community members or migrants.”
Dumagan added that before the issue on the controversial resort in Bohol became viral last March, the DENR-Davao conducted enforcement activities in Mount Apo and issued show cause orders to operators of illegal commercial establishments. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
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