GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson pushed for Sustainable Environmental Management during the Governor’s Permit Holders’ Forum held at the Negros First Residences in Bacolod City, Friday, participated in by more than 200 permit holders.

The activity provided a venue to discuss and address pressing issues concerning the sand and gravel, and mineral utilization within the province and strengthened the collaborative participation among government agencies and permit holders.

“Sustainable Environmental Management is one of the most important thrusts of our Administration’s Development Agenda, coined as Abanse Negrense,” the governor said.

The stakeholders were also informed of the province’s policy direction for 2020, generated inputs from permit holders/stakeholders on how to improve the permit processing and regulations as well as promote responsible mining practices among mining practitioners in Negros Occidental.

“Negros Occidental is one of the most gifted provinces in terms of natural resources and as a father of the province, I want to be forthright with you that the permit given to you is a privilege to use and enjoy our resources, not a license to abuse our finite natural reserves,” said Governor Lacson.

The activity was spearheaded by the Provincial Environment Management Office headed by Danilo Amisola.

Also present in the activity were Board Member Rommel Debulgado, chairman of the SP Committee on Environmental Protection, Mines and Geosciences Bureau – Region 6 Director, Raul Laput, Regin Segovia of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6, DENR-Penro Forrester Edgardo Rostata, Negros Occidental Miners Permittees Association, Inc. (NOMPAI) vice president, Allan Joseph Arceo, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, and Dr. Rowena Parcon, head of the PEMO Regulatory Services Division, among others. (PR)