DENR denies palm oil firm’s plea to lift CDO

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has denied the request of a palm oil firm in southern Negros to lift the cease-and-desist order (CDO) previously issued by the agency.

Acting regional director Vicente Losbañes of the DENR-EMB Negros Island Region also denied Hacienda Asia Plantation Inc.’s (HAPI) request to construct a five-hectare oil palm nursery.

In a phone patch interview with Capitol reporters on Thursday, Losbañes said he informed HAPI resident manager Felix T. Occeña Jr. in two separate letters that both requests were denied.

“The CDO remains in effect,” Losbañes said.

He cited HAPI’s noncompliance with key conditions stated in the CDO, including the construction of a siltation pond.

Losbañes explained that the company had agreed to produce a design for a siltation pond, submit it to the provincial government, and await endorsement for review and approval.

As of this writing, the company has yet to submit its detailed engineering design.

“As long as they fail to comply with the conditions of the CDO, the cease-and-desist order remains in effect for all earthmoving activities,” Losbañes said.

In a letter to the DENR-EMB, Occeña claimed HAPI had complied with environmental regulations and asked that the CDO covering the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) project be lifted.

In response, Losbañes said in his letter: “In reference to our correspondence dated 15 August 2025, this Office denied your request to commence project implementation, notwithstanding that your application for an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) has progressed to its initial stage.”

“It was also emphasized thereon that the CDO remains in full effect until it is formally revoked or lifted, and the required Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) has been duly secured,” he added.

He said the lifting of the CDO must be preceded by the filing of a motion and the prior issuance of the ECC.

The DENR-EMB also directed HAPI to suspend all further activities until full compliance with all requirements is achieved.

“Any premature activity may be deemed a violation of regulatory requirements and subject to appropriate sanctions,” Losbañes said in his letter to Occeña.

As for the company’s request to proceed with the construction of an oil palm nursery within its IFMA area, the DENR-EMB also denied the proposal.

Losbañes said HAPI’s ECC application remains in its initial phase, despite holding public and technical scoping activities on July 3, 2025.

“The mere filing of an application does not grant permission to proceed with project implementation, regardless of the proposed area being limited to five hectares,” he said.

“We would like to emphasize that the cease-and-desist order issued by EMB Region VI on 5 June 2025 continues to be in full effect unless and until it is formally revoked or lifted, and the required ECC has been duly secured,” Losbañes said.

“While we acknowledge your current challenges, the proposed development does not meet the required criteria for approval under current policies and guidelines,” he added.

“After a thorough review of the records and the information you provided, we regret to inform you that we are unable to grant the request at this time,” Losbañes wrote.

It can be recalled that the DENR-EMB issued the cease-and-desist order against HAPI on June 13, 2025, halting its quarry operations, road construction, and related activities at its plantation in Candoni, Negros Occidental.

With the order served, HAPI temporarily ceased all affected operations while addressing compliance issues related to its ECC, Losbañes said.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson also requested the DENR-EMB to issue the CDO against HAPI’s earthmoving activities.

Candoni Mayor Ray Ruiz, for his part, issued a final notice to HAPI, ordering the suspension of plantation operations unless an ECC is obtained.

Ruiz said HAPI, which operates 6,652.32 hectares of land in Barangays Gatuslao and Agboy under IFMA No. 04-2009, with a CDMP approved on April 28, 2021, has repeatedly violated environmental laws, government regulations, and good faith agreements with the local government and residents.