Salvador Benedicto Mayor Jose Max Ortiz yesterday said any order from an individual or government organization for the demolition of structures within the multiple use zone of the Northern Negros Natural Park in his town will be defied.

“We want to come up with a win-win solution, any order for action in the multiple use zone should come from the Protected Area Management Board,” Ortiz, who is among the owners of structures in the area who had been issued a cease-and-desist order, said.

He said they have no problem with prohibiting the building of structures in the NNNP strictly prohibited zone where there should be no human activity.

“But the NNNP multiple use zone is covered by a Forest Land Use Plan approved by the PAMB, we feel that we should be the ones to regulate all structures there because of the FLOP,” the mayor said.

Ortiz said he is happy the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources technical working group (TWG) has give the town authority to develop the 200-hectare NNNP buffer zone.

The TWG is waiting for the recommended policies and guidelines for the multiple use zone from the PAMB ad hoc committee, composed of the mayors of towns and cities that form part of the NNNP, he said.

When the TWG and ad hoc committee versions are reconciled, a draft will be submitted to the PAMB for approval or denial, Ortiz said.

He asked why the cease-and-desists orders on structures within the NNNP were only issued in Salvador Benedicto, and not in other towns and cities that have areas within the park.

Ortiz also asked why the CDOs singled out only some within the multiple use zone.*CPG

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