The Group of Environmental Socialists (GOES), which voices out to seek resolution for environmental disputes in Negros Island, pushes to reawaken unresolved issues at the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) and some areas in Silay City.
Randy James Rojo, co-founder and spokesperson of GOES, is pressing moves in the fight for a resolution against illegal structures inside NNNP and other neighbouring areas he claims has been ignored by the local and national governments.
Rojo said, the local office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been tapped, along with the group’s viral disputes sent to the Office of the President last October and December, 2018.
Since it has been ignored, GOES pursued moves to reawaken its demands last January for their complaints to be reviewed and reconsidered.
The request to grant foreclosure and eradication of illegal structures inside NNNP, specifically in Don Salvador Benedicto, as well is in Patag, Silay City, is the main target.
The fight to protect and preserve NNNP and some areas in Patag in Silay is one move to help its communities preserve their livelihood. These places are considered the main water source of the majority of Negros Occidental whereas the continuing construction of illegal structures can put its natural resources at risk.
According to DENR, a number of political personalities are involved in the destruction of the NNNP and other areas where they replaced the booming production of its natural resources with mountain resorts, restaurants, or rest houses without business and building permits.
In effect, consumer demands and consumptions increased, making waste management a new problem. By introducing consumerism and commercialism in the mountains, GOES group is more bothered that it can expand the extent of destroyed rainforests for political, business, or personal interests.
GOES members clearly stated their disappointment to the passive response from the DENR as well as from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).
The group says that the “failure” of these offices to take action to stop the illegal construction of such structures has placed the NNNP and some areas in Patag in vain.
Currently, GOES issues complaints, requests, and collaborations from different sectors to help their demands for the issues on NNNP to be re-opened and be properly assisted.* (KRISTINE G. ALONSO, via NDB)