• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Environment Management Bureau (EMB)-Region 6 has issued a cease and desist order (CDO) against Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (HAPI) to halt its quarry operations, road construction, and other activities at its palm oil plantation in Candoni, Negros Occidental.
Vicente Losbañes, head of EMB-6 Enforcement Division, said it was served on June 13.
With the issuance of a CDO, the firm temporarily stopped the quarry operation, road construction, and other related activities, pending resolution on the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
EMB is also awaiting an advice from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the classification of the more than 6,000 hectares of property, which are the areas covered by the plantation.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson had earlier requested the EMB for the issuance of a CDO against HAPI’s earthmoving activities as he also sought the intervention of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Raphael Lotilla, citing the failure of HAPI to obtain an ECC.
“Our letter sent to HAPI is in effect an order to stop operations until they secure the required ECC,” Lacson said, adding that “the CDO issued by EMB is in response also to our letter to them to issue such CDO”.
The governor acknowledged the prompt response and exercise of regulatory mandate of EMB to issue such order.
“We expect that HAPI will fully cooperate and immediately take on necessary measures to address the concerns raised by the stakeholders,” he added. | GB
