Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has also joined the call for investigations on the encroachment of individuals in the forest reserve of the Northern Negros Natural Park.

“If, indeed, there is a violation, we should make amends,” Lacson said Wednesday.

He, however, said that he would also like to hear the side of those actually building structures at the forest reserve areas.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. had earlier reiterated the need to remove the structures within the forest reserve of the Northern Negros Natural Park.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Andres Untal, has issued cease-and-desist orders against 40 persons, including Salvador Benedicto Mayor Jose Max Ortiz and Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, who have acquired land within the NNNP, to prevent them from further building structures in the area.

Lacson said he wants to know how individuals managed to build their structures inside the park.

Members of NNNP Protected Area Management Board, with Gov. Marañon as the co-chairman, will meet next week at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, to discuss the illegal sale of land, and construction of structures with the forest reserve.

There have been allegations that some DENR personnel were selling, brokering and facilitating the sale of the land within the NNNP.

Marañon said the DENR should explain the allegations against some of its personnel.

Butch Marquez, DENR VI technical director for protected areas, said they are investigating the allegations.*GPB

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