• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Almana Property and Development Corp. developer of Mailum Falls Dreamland Resort in Sitio Pataan, Barangay Mailum, Bago City, has complied with the order of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) for them to cease from engaging in earth-moving activities.
This is pending the approval of their amended environmental compliance certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Vicente Mesias said on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
A notice of violation and stoppage order have been issued by the EMB to Mailum Falls Dreamland Resort for implementing additional components that fall outside the scope of the previously issued ECC.
The Balaan Hills Ecopark has not secured an ECC and has been operating without a valid discharge permit, which is a violation of the Philippine Clean Water Act.
Prior to the issuance of the notices of violation, Mesias said there were complaints from the Pataan Irrigators Association and Mailum Bukidnon Tribe on the recent flooding in the barangay, which is being blamed to the earth-moving activities at the Mailum Falls Dreamland Resort.
He added that the management of Mailum Falls has already initiated some measures to avoid repetition.
The two mountain resorts are among the prime tourist destinations in Barangay Mailum.
Mesias said they will check if the management of Balaan Hills has complied with the stoppage order issued by the EMB.
In a letter addressed to Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao, the EMB recommended that other permits and clearances related to the operation of the two establishments, which fall outside the jurisdiction of the EMB, be reviewed and endorsed to the appropriate government agencies.
With this development, Javellana-Yao issued an executive order (EO), which creates the Bago City Task Force on Environmental Compliance and Tourism Area Development.
The EO states that the steady rise in tourism-centered infrastructure development introduced largely through private sector investments and government efforts has resulted to compliance and enforcement issues against environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
The creation of the task force will strengthen institutional coordination, ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and accelerate the development of ecologically sound and culturally vibrant tourism destinations, the mayor said. | GB
