Negros Occidental Governor Urges EMB to Stop Palm Oil Ops

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has requested the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region VI to issue a cease and desist order against Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (HAPI) for allegedly operating a palm oil plantation in Candoni town without securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

The appeal follows reports that HAPI continued land clearing activities despite a cease and desist order already issued by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) of Negros Occidental.

In a letter dated June 9 and addressed to EMB Region VI Director Atty. Ramal Niel Pascua, Lacson said he was compelled to raise a “pressing environmental concern that requires immediate action.”

“We respectfully request the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region VI to issue a cease and desist order against Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (HAPI) in relation to its ongoing plantation establishment activities,” Lacson said.

He emphasized that HAPI has not secured the ECC as required under the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1586.

Lacson said the ECC is a vital document ensuring that environmentally significant projects undergo rigorous assessment and implement mitigation measures.

He cited the findings of the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) formed during a March 20 inspection, which included representatives from DENR-EMB’s Pollution and Environmental Management Unit, the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices, the LGU of Candoni, PEMO, barangay officials, civil society groups, and Indigenous Peoples.

The MMT clearly instructed HAPI to obtain the ECC, Lacson said.

Despite this, HAPI allegedly continued operations using heavy machinery such as bulldozers and backhoes, with videos circulating on social media reportedly showing the violations.

Lacson urged the EMB to act swiftly and enforce environmental laws.

“Issuing a cease and desist order would be a crucial step in compelling HAPI to comply with the law and prevent further environmental harm,” he added.

On Thursday, Lacson confirmed that PEMO had already issued a temporary cease and desist order halting HAPI’s land clearing while the ECC issue is being resolved.

While HAPI claims it is exempt from securing an ECC, the provincial government asserts that the requirement applies.

Lacson also earlier appealed to Environment Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla to intervene in the dispute.

The governor said the plantation has operated without proper documentation, raising alarm among residents, civil society groups, and the provincial government.

He said the province established a Multipartite Monitoring Team to monitor HAPI’s environmental compliance and forest management practices.

HAPI, in a statement sent to local media, said its palm oil plantation has created over 500 jobs and contributes to the economic development of Candoni.

Meanwhile, the civil society group Negrosanon Initiatives on Climate in the Environment (NICE) launched an online petition to halt the project, citing environmental destruction and violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

NICE claimed the project began without the required ECC, prompting a Notice of Violation from the EMB.

According to the group, about 1,000 families are at risk of displacement, with many cultivating the land for generations.

They warned that the agro-industrial project could destroy forest areas, pollute water systems, and drive out local flora, fauna, and farming communities.

NICE urged authorities to preserve the cultural heritage and livelihood of Indigenous Peoples who have long protected these ancestral lands.

The group called for collective action to defend the remaining forests, rivers, and ancestral domains to safeguard the environment and future generations.