The Protected Area Management Board of the Northern Negros Natural Park failed to come up yesterday with a decision on the fate of  illegal structures within the NNNP in Salvador Benedicto town that have been  issued cease and desist orders.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Andres Untal said 91 CDOs have been issued against illegal structures in the area.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who presided over the PAMB meeting at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod, said the status quo would remain in the area, pending a decision on the structures at another meeting.

Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano had asked for another PAMB meeting to discuss proposed resolutions presented by Untal yesterday, and Calatrava Mayor Araceli Somosa put the request into a motion that was approved by the body.

One resolution proposed by Untal directs the NNNP park  superintendent to process applications for Special Agreements of Protected Areas with consideration of the NNNP Zones, Forest Land Use Plan of Salvador Benedicto, and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act.

The second resolution directs the PAMB technical working group to formulate service fees in line with NNNP activities and guidelines for multiple use zone uses.

Untal also proposed a resolution on the TWG recommendation for the demolition of illegal structures and other courses of action legally feasible.

The PAMB, at the same meeting, approved a request from the University of St La Salle to conduct a study within the NNNP on the symbiosis among the forests, humans and the ocean, and the P2.2 million improvement of a farm to market road in Canlandog, Murcia.

The Basic Energy Corp. also sought permission from the PAMB for the conduct of a feasibility study on a hydro power plant.

The PAMB was told the Department of Energy recently awarded Basic Energy Corp. four hydro power service contracts in Negros Occidental. The firm’s Putian 1 and 2 hydropower projects are located along the Putian River in Barangay Canlandog, Murcia, Negros Occidental, located southwest of the NNNP.

The PAMB deferred approval of the Bacolod City Water District’s construction of a viewing deck in Talisay City, pending its review by the PAMB technical working group.

Marañon said any development proposed within the NNNP must be reviewed by the TWG to protect the last frontier of the province’s forests.*CPG

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