THE Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) sees the possible lifting of the Temporary Protection Order (TEPO) at Mount Santo Tomas.
Cenro Baguio head Rainier Balbuena explained during the weekly “Talakayan sa Environment Code” forum of a management plan created by members of a council identifying specific areas which may be touched and preserved at Mount Santo Tomas.
The management plan conceptualized by the 15-member council aims to instill strict protection of the identified no-touch zone to prevent illegal cutting of trees and encourage planting of more trees to protect the environment.
“The 15-member Council is now in the process of creating programs needed within the area of Mount Santo Tomas and as far as the timeline on lifting the TEPO order is concerned, I think the council who have shown its intention calling for the lifting of the order have signed a memorandum of agreement which will look forward for a wholistic implementation of the management plan,” Balbuena added.
Cenro Baguio is now in the process of ground routing which identifies the agricultural areas, eco-tourism sites, and the areas where to put up souvenir shops at Mount Santo Tomas.
“As of now, we are currently implementing a permanent environmental protection order and on a monthly basis, we continuously submit a report to the courts through the Office of the Solicitor General, who lawyers for the Court of Appeals. As of the moment, we have an approved management plan for Mount Santo Tomas forest reserve approved by all signatories or stakeholders headed by Tuba Mayor Ignacio Rivera,” Balbuena said.
Respondent and then Baguio City Representative Nicasio Aliping Jr. and those acting on his behalf were directed to "cease and desist from performing acts to develop or enhance the property located at Mount Santo Tomas forest reserve, aside from immediately taking steps to mitigate the contamination of Amliang dam.
“Under the management plan, it will dictate the direction in implementing the management program where it would cover the division on what the multi-use zone and strict zone are. Under the multi-use zone, it identifies the eco-tourism site, agricultural site, aside from identifying the areas which maybe touched and managed by the communities in the said area,” the Cenro officer stated.
Baguio Regreening Movement chairman Erdolfo Balajadia earlier asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the possibility of easing the implementation of the TEPO to allow tourists to once again visit the area.
“The Mount Santo Tomas area is a beautiful and important place where we should let the tourists enjoy the scenery provided they will be regulated," Balajadia said.
The Supreme Court issued a TEPO after then Baguio City Bishop Carlito Cenzon and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas led people of Tuba, Benguet, and San Fabian, Pangasinan in filing a petition seeking a Writ of Kalikasan and Writ of Continuing Mandamus.