PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Mimaropa region’s environment office has lauded the initiative of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the underground river park here to validate the easement zone and coastal setback compliance of commercial establishments and residential homes.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Mimaropa Regional Director Natividad Bernardino said Thursday the easement zoning activity done last March 14 by the PAMB of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) is a step towards preventing the destruction of the coastal environment of Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan.
“That is a good thing — taking the initiative to ensure that all commercial establishments are following environmental laws and regulations. In fact, that is what we want to happen, that local governments take the lead in ensuring the protection of our coastal environment,” she said.
Bernardino, who was in Coron Thursday to facilitate the easement zoning validation of commercial establishments and informal settlers there, said her office will also investigate the presence of some 83 informal settler families in a timberland-classified area at Campsite, Purok Dalampasigan 2, Sabang.
“We will have that probed because timberland areas are supposed to be uninhabited,” she said.
On March 14, the PAMB’s Project Development Evaluation Committee (PDEC) team was in Sabang and discovered some 50 establishments out of 100 whose structures have breached the 30-meter easement zone and coastal setback.
They also did the same in Purok Dalampasigan 2 where informal settlers and at least three commercial establishments have encroached on the 40-meter government-prescribed easement zone.
“They were relocated from the Sabang Wharf sometime in 1993 by the old administration,” said park superintendent Elizabeth Maclang.
On March 20, the PAMB will hold a meeting where the PDEC will present its findings for resolution. Establishment owners can attend to state their cases and to know the amount of time they would be given before their structures are removed from the easement zone.
Allene Fernandez of the City Planning and Development Office assured the establishment owners that they will be fair in their observations and recommendations.
“We assure you that we will be fair in our report, and we will make sure that it will not disregard any policy and the concerns of our stakeholders here,” she said. (PNA)
