• KEITH BRANDON CARI-AN
Locals might face sanctions for vandalizing a riverbed near a local resort in Purok Gayas, Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia in Negros Occidental.
Engr. Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer, said Sept. 25 that persons who painted the rocks and boulders in various colors may face charges for defacing the riverbed which is owned and managed by the state.
“As citizens appreciating, enjoying, and utilizing these areas, we must do our part in maintaining instead of defacing them,” said Gerangaya.
In a now deleted video posted on Facebook that a netizen had shared, the rocks and boulders in a segment of the river near Russian Resort in Purok Gayas were shown painted in vibrant yellows, oranges, blues, and reds.
Gerangaya said the municipality of Murcia must conduct an investigation on who gave permission to paint the riverbed.
The PENR officer said that this may have been influenced by the painted rocks at Lusaran Dam in Brgy. Lusaran, Cebu City, which became “viral” in August.
The said barangay was compelled to remove the paint from the rocks without using any chemical solutions.
Depending on which paint variety was used in Brgy. Minoyan, Gerangaya said the act of painting in flowing bodies of water could potentially affect freshwater and marine life.
He said the Environmental Management Bureau could enforce provisions of Republic Act 9275, or the Clean Water Act, in filing charges.
However, the PENRO has yet to formally receive any complaint from concerned citizen nor a report from the local government, as of press time.
The river located near the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park originates from the Mambukal Falls and is a tributary of the Bago River.
While the area concerned is not part of the surrounding protected zones, Gerangaya said that residents and barangay officials may have to answer to the Department of Public Works and Highways, which manages river flows and systems, as well as under RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, for vandalizing state-owned resources.
“Just because they may look appealing to the eye and has the potential to become famous on the internet, it doesn’t mean you have to vandalize our natural landscapes,” Gerangaya stressed.
“We don’t have to paint over rocks and riverbeds, they are God’s masterpieces. All we have to do is take care of them,” he added. | KBC
