DAVAO CITY – Majority of the establishments occupying the foothills of Mount Apo Natural Park are not compliant to the requirements set by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Office.
Environment Secretary Maria Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga on Tuesday revealed there are 96 establishments documented operating in the protected areas.
Of the 96 establishments documented, three (3) fully complied with complete documents such as Protected Area Management Board, Environmental Compliance Certificate and Special Land Use Agreement in Protected Area (SAPA), three with ECC and SAPA while six were issued PAMB and ECC, another 34 were issued PAMB with no ECC.
“But 53 or majority of these establishments have not complied yet,” Loyzaga emphasized.
Of the total land coverage of Mount Apo, 64,000 hectares are occupied while more than 29,000 are considered biodiversity areas, while another 35,000 hectares remain unsettled.
In some areas, Loyzaga said Indigenous Peoples communities are settled.
In areas where IP’s communities exist, Loyzaga said “We need a convergence approach.”
Understanding tourism is vital in the Davao Region, Loyzaga said the government will develop “Not just eco-tourism but conservation tourism. We understand the value of the ecosystem and the values of the endangered species, flora and fauna and we want to conserve this precisely.”
The ecosystem needs to be protected not just for tourism sector but also the manufacturing sector, the food production -all of these are dependent on the ecology.:
Given the huge challenge, Loyzaga said she also relies on the support from Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Magno,
What must be done
Loyzaga acknowledged that the equation must be balanced between conservation and livelihood of the IP communities and of the business sector but she emphasized “Everyone must be compliant with the law.”
The 96 establishments are required to undergo a permitting process, some of them are resorts, some support facilities.
Though the DENR noted that two corporations fully complied with the law and that includes the EDC (Energy Development Corporation ), a geothermal energy provider based in Kidapawan City and the Hedcor Group (Hedcor), a subsidiary of the AboitizPower Corporation which is into renewable energy from run-of-river hydropower systems for more than 40 years.
How to comply?
“We cannot compromise compliance,” Loyzaga clarified.
As it is now, DENR suspends all ECC applications in protected areas as the agency will evaluate all the documents and everyone has to go through the process.
Everyone must take note of their responsibility to the environment.
Compliance with the law is the key to resolve the issue. All business establishments must comply, Loyzaga emphasized.
Resort owners with more than ten rooms, they need to secure STP or Sewage Treatment Plants.
Local Government Units operating as eco-tourism destinations must have potable water that is safe and sustainable.
LGU’s according to Loyzaga must present a tourism plan.
“If you are in a high biodiversity area, you need a conservation plan because that in the end will sustain your whole ecosystem,” she stressed.
The DENR, according to Loyzaga, is looking at the whole picture from environment to livelihood of the people but laws must not be compromised, she repeated.
She advised that those planning to establish business must first secure all the required documents before starting any site development to avoid complications.
Loyzaga expects support from Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Magno, whom she said, can help her agency in Mindanao.
Magno for his part committed to ensure that government laws and policies are fully complied.
“We are here to protect the environment and we are happy to collaborate with your agency,” Magno addressed Loyzaga.
The DENR, Loyzaga added, understands the complexities, political dynamics and the presence of different influential groups that they have gone through but she emphasized “We are trying to influence development and protect our environment.”
