ILOILO CITY – – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has already ordered a halt in the ongoing works in the reported flattening of a mountain in Barangay Yapak in Boracay island, Malay, Aklan.
“We issued stoppage order because of the reported leveling of mountain and in compliance to the order of (Environment) Secretary (Roy) Cimatu to halt ongoing and new construction as announced during the commencement of Boracay closure,” said Jim Sampulna, Regional Director of DENR in Western Visayas (DENR-6) in an interview Thursday.
Sampulna said that Secretary Cimatu , who chairs the Inter-Agency Task Force in the ongoing rehabilitation of Boracay, already issued stoppage order to all construction in the island resort except those involving the road widening projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Sampulna said the area of the mountain, which is identified as a timberland, is a titled property of Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., the Villars’ property group and another private firm.
He said that Vista Land started to cut trees in the area early this year after DENR gave them the permit to cut planted species.
But since the area is private property, Sampulna said that all they can do is advise them and regulate the cutting of trees.
He said that the firm is leveling the place because they are planning to build a condominium unit in the area. (PNA)
