Over 50 establishments at the Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) were found to be operating without permits.
Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have conducted an onsite inspection to check the establishments and resorts at the foot of Mt. Apo and found out that more than 50 of the 90 establishments in the area were allegedly operating without permit.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga visited Barangay Kapatagan in Digos City and Barangay Managa in Bansalan, Davao del Sur to check the MANP after she received a report that structures are being established in the protected area.
“As we have observed, there are areas that have already some settlements, and some developments are present. There are still some very well-conserved areas and those are the areas that hopefully, we can continue to protect,” Yulo-Loyzaga said.
Data from DENR showed that out of 96 establishments under the multiple use zone, three are fully compliant and have completed the required clearance from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), environmental compliance certificate (ECC), and special use agreement in protected areas (SAPA).
On the other hand, six establishments have PAMB clearance and ECC and 34 have PAMB clearance only while 53 have not complied at all.
DENR officials together Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao, Secretary Leo Magno, and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also visited two resorts that have PAMB clearance and ECC and checked other developments in the area.
A resort owner said the management is working on securing SAPA to complete the requirements.
“We will talaga itong investigation sa Senado. I think its due time para makita talaga yung situation dito sa Mt. Apo Natural Park,” Twin Mountain View Resort Corp. CEO, Rex Fortich Cagas, said.
Establishments that do not have documents will be given time to comply with the needed requirements to operate.
“They will go through evaluation process and they will be given a period to address their compliance,” Yulo-Loyzaga added.
