DENR-6 stops illegal construction inside NNNP

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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 and the Community ENR Office of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) and stopped an alleged illegal construction within Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), located at So. Pakol, Brgy. Celestino Villacin, Cadiz City.

The structure is a two-storey concrete house with a dimension of 20 feet x 30 feet. It is owned by a certain Florante Halipa while the lot claimant is Mr. Francisco Villanueva.

With the structure situated within the jurisdiction of the NNNP-Multiple Use Zone (MUZ), a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Clearance or Permit from the DENR-Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Office was required and should have been obtained prior to the construction.

Without the required legal documents, the team of CENRO Cadiz immediately installed Notice of Violation (NOV) signage which stated “No Building Permit, No SAPA, No ECC and No PAMB Clearance or Permit from the NNNP PASu office.”

NNNP is located in the northwestern part of Negros Island within the Province of Negros Occidental. It is home to threatened and endangered endemic species such as the Negros bleeding heart dove, Visayan warty pig, Visayan spotted deer and Red lauan.

Section 18 of Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act states that it is unlawful for any person to occupy or dwell in any public land within the protected area without clearance from the PAMB. Violation could result in a fine of P200,000 to P1 million and/or imprisonment of one to six years.

“By the name itself, protected areas should be protected. We at the DENR always remind the public that it is important to protect and conserve our precious natural resources. By doing so, we work hard towards the attainment of sustainable development for all,” DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said. (DENR-6)