• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) is validating the reported activities of the Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (HAPI) in Barangay Gatuslao, Candoni, Negros Occidental despite the cease and desist order (CDO) issued earlier.
Last June, the EMB served a CDO against HAPI to stop its quarry operations, road construction, and other activities at its oil palm plantation, pending resolution of the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
EMB-Negros Island Region officer-in-charge Vicente Losbañes said on Friday (Oct. 3) they received information that HAPI engaged in the planting of palm seedlings and forest trees even with the issuance of the CDO.
Losbañes said they will coordinate with the DENR to determine if HAPI is allowed to do so as the amendments to their 25-year comprehensive development management plan have yet to be approved.
HAPI has an integrated forest management agreement with the DENR covering 6,652 hectares in Barangay Gatuslao.
During the issuance of the CDO, Losbañes recalled that Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson only mentioned the stoppage of earth-moving activities of HAPI, in which the planting of palm seedling and forest trees are not included.
Should there be violations, the EMB will issue a notice of violation and stoppage order against HAPI, he added. | GB
