C. Visayas LGUs urged to pass protected areas conservation ordinance

An official of the Regional Development Council (RDC-7) on Tuesday said local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas should pass ordinances adopting stringent requirements before approving permits for development in protected areas. Kenneth Cobonpue, co-chair of the RDC-7, said the body is initiating the adoption of more stringent measures to ensure the sustainable use and development of resources in all 24 protected areas spread across the Central Visayas region. He said the provincial governments of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor should adopt measures requiring municipalities and component cities whose territory has existing protected areas to strengthen Special Use Agreements. 'This ordinance should require private establishments clearance from the Protected Area Management Board and the environmental compliance certificate or ECC,' Cobonpue told the Philippine News Agency. RDC-7 members raised this concern amid massive development in the mountains of Cebu, some of which are done at de clared protected areas with questionable documentations. Requiring establishments and realty developers to get an ECC with the DENR should be strictly implemented as a requirement in the issuance of local permits and clearances for structures and facilities located in the multi-use zones of protected areas, Cobonpue said. He said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) will issue a circular to ensure compliance. 'This issue on abuses in our protected area landscapes was addressed during the quarterly full council meeting of RDC-7 on Sept. 4 in Lapu-Lapu City,' he added. Cobonpue said the measure will help the Department of Environment and Natural Resources enforce the law and ordinances in protected areas, particularly those who have entered forestlands without a tenurial agreement with the government. Protected areas are defined under the National Integrated Protected Area System Act of 1992 as portions of land and water set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological si gnificance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation. Source: Philippines News Agency