Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano yesterday accepted the challenge to identify personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who allegedly assured him that there would not be any problem in building his structures within the North Negros Natural Park in Salvador Benedicto.

Montelibano said it was Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Andres Untal.

The Murcia mayor was among the 40 individuals issued cease-and-desist orders by the DENR, in connection with the construction of structures with the NNNP area in Salvador Benedicto.

Untal could not be reached for comment as of last night, as he was not answering his phone, although it was ringing. Before the repeated calls, Untal was also texted if he would like to answer the allegations of Montelibano, but the DAILY STAR got no reply.

Montelibano further alleged that he was told by Untal two weeks ago to accept the issued CDO, to put all things in proper perspective.

He quoted Untal as saying, “maareglo ni…wala ni problema kay ara ka sa multiple use zone (This can be settled, this is not a problem since you are in the multiple use zone).”

On Tuesday, Untal challenged Montelibano to name the DENR personnel.

Untal had said that, in fairness to other DENR employees, who are doing their job religiously, he should name names, adding that it may help solve the problem.

“Put that in writing and (in an) affidavit,” Untal had said.

DENR Regional Executive Director for Western Visayas Jim Sampulna had said earlier that they are now probing allegations that some of their personnel engaged in the sale of land within the NNNP protected area.

“We are transparent, we are not hiding anything,” Untal stressed during a Tuesday dialog with the individuals issued CDOs in Salvador Benedicto, at the Kadiwa Center in Bacolod City.

Montelibano and Salvador Benedicto Mayor Jose Max Ortiz, who is also a recipient of a CDO, are among the mayors of 11 towns and cities that straddle the NNNP. They are also members of the Protected Area Management Board, the administrative governing body of the 80,000-hectare protected park.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. reiterated that no politics is involved in the issuance of the CDO to Montelibano. The Murcia mayor was reportedly among several mayors who did not support the re-election of Marañon.

Marañon said mayors are just a small portion of the PAMB, which governs the NNNP. Aside from Marañon, who is co-chairman of PAMB, other members are non-government organizations as well as barangay officials.

Untal said Tuesday that they are issuing 15 more CDOs to individuals, on top of the 40 they had sent earlier to occupants of the NNNP.

Individuals who received the CDOs have questioned the DENR why it has brought the issue up only now, and also allowed the construction of structures within the park. They also expressed dismay that they were being treated like criminals, adding that they also did their share in planting trees and protecting the environment in their respective areas.

Marañon said the issuance of CDOs is meant to stop further expansion of structures within the NNNP. “Is that being treated as a criminal?” he asked. “Layo man na kayo (it's farfetched),” Marañon said.

Members of the PAMB are expected to meet on April 10 to discuss the concerns raised by CDO recipients.

Untal said the concerns raised during the dialog will be used as inputs for PAMB to decide on. “Eventually, the PAMB will come out with a policy or decision to harmonize their concerns and our concerns over the environment,” he added.

It was agreed during the Tuesday dialog that a status quo, as proposed by Untal, be observed, until PAMB formulates the guidelines and policies to undertake in order to regulate the influx of occupants.*GPB

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