Civil society organizations, church w, indigenous groups, environmental advocates, and affected local communities are demanding the cancellation of the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Hacienda Asia Plantation Inc. (HAPI).
The call was made during a public forum entitled “Promises vs. Reality: A Public Forum on the Social and Environmental Impacts of the Palm Oil Plantation in Candoni”, held on August 26 at Vianney Hall, San Sebastian Cathedral, a press release from the group said.
The forum focused on the controversy surrounding HAPI’s 6,000-hectare palm oil operation in Candoni, which has been linked to violations of environmental laws, the destruction of local livelihoods, encroachment on indigenous territories, and the displacement of community members.
DENR Negros Island Region Assistant Regional Director, Engr. Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, revealed that as early as 2011, the regional office had already recommended to the DENR Central Office the cancellation of HAPI’s IFMA.
Notably, the DENR had previously issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against HAPI for operating without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)—a basic requirement under Philippine environmental law.
Gerangaya further stated that HAPI’s request to lift the CDO was denied, as the company has yet to complete its ECC application.
Grid Alila of the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) Campaigns added that in addition to its non-compliance with ECC requirements, HAPI failed to obtain the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the affected indigenous peoples (IPs), as required by law.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos and Chair of the NICE Wisdom Council, invoked Pope Francis’ message: “Everything is interconnected, and genuine care for our own lives and our relationships with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice, and faithfulness to others.”
“In the spirit of Ubuntu — ‘I am because we are’ — we affirm that no community is saved alone, and no one should be left behind,” Bishop Alminaza said. “From a civil society lens, this is environmental injustice — where promises of jobs mask the reality of poisoned waters, lost biodiversity, and deepening poverty. From a faith perspective, to destroy Candoni’s grasslands is to wound God’s creation and rob future generations of their inheritance.”
The forum also featured wildlife biologist Lisa Paguntalan, Executive Director of the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PBCFI), who emphasized the ecological importance of South Negros’ grasslands and forest patches. She noted that the area supports critical biodiversity, including four species of bats and other endemic fauna.
Tribal Chief Tony Condez of the local IP community issued a plea for support from civil society and government officials, stating that bulldozing has already begun on their ancestral burial grounds. He called for the urgent issuance of their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) to strengthen their legal standing and protect their lands from further encroachment.
The event was organized by the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) and Caritas Bacolod Social Action Foundation Inc. (CaBSAFI).