Earth moving operations on 6,652 hectares in barangays Gatuslao and Agboy in Candoni, Negros Occidental, will be halted pending resolution of critical issues, Rafael Coscolluela, Provincial Consultant on Energy and Environmental Concerns, said on Friday, Nov. 8.
This was agreed on in a dialog attended by Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (HAPI) officials, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, government environment officers, local government unit personnel, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and IP representatives, and the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment at the Candoni municipal hall on Thursday, Coscolluela said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) earlier approved the Comprehensive Development Management Plan of HAPI for its oil palm, agricultural, and agro-forestry operations in the area under an Integrated Forestry Management Agreement (IFMA).
Coscolluela said there were five main points of agreements reached at the dialog Thursday.
It was agreed that pending resolution of critical issues, HAPI operations should be limited to nursery and out planting activities so that the existing workforce will not be deprived of work, he said.
However, earth moving and clearing should be avoided to prevent negative environmental impacts as shown in photos and videos posted on social media, Coscolluela said.
Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said the earth moving activities, including road construction, were halted because they are subject to clearances.
The planting that does require an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC) will continue as about 550 workers depend on it for their livelihood, Gerangaya said.
It was also agreed that HAPI should submit an Environmental Impact Assessment and an application for ECC, Coscolluela said.
HAPI will revise its Comprehensive Development Management Plan to address various concerns raised, he said.
Meanwhile, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples will formally write DENR on the intent of the IP community to file a claim on certain sections within the IFMA area. The NCIP will also request for DENR assistance to complete the requirements, Coscolluela said.
It was also agreed that the multipartite monitoring team created by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson should convene as soon as possible to map out its monitoring program, he added.
The organized protesters (farmers/claimants) were “not allowed” by the LGU at the dialog since they had already aired their issues during a dialog in Bacolod earlier this week, Coscolluela said.
Separate meetings will be scheduled exclusively for them, he said.
Coscolluela said he was there as Provincial Consultant on Energy ans Environmental Concerns to clarify issues, get the facts and facilitate resolution of identified concerns.
“One big challenge is the need to verify and validate claims, alleged violations and apprehensions,” he said.*