THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered a land developer to show legal basis on why he destroyed mangroves in Cansaga, Mandaue City based on the complaint of a people’s organization.
As a result of the technical conference on June 19, 2019, DENR 7 enforcement officer Viernov Grefalde said land developer Raul Canoy promised to submit the legal documents of his project on June 25.
Grefalde said they called for a technical conference after the Kahugpungan sa mga Lumulopyo sa Sitio Tulay Homeowners Association (Kalstuhai), represented by its president Oscar Ramos, filed the complaint.
Grefalde said the complaint of the homeowners group means the people are vigilant in protecting the environment.
Grefalde added that he cannot yet determine Canoy’s real development project in Cansaga until he will submit his documents.
Grefalde said Canoy was forced to stop his work after the Mandaue City Government issued a cease and desist order to the developer last week and requested the deployment of police personnel in the area.
He said once Canoy will submit his documents, DENR will decide the appropriate sanction against the developer in the mangrove area and for working without appropriate permits from the DENR and Mandaue City.
Dr. Alice Lustica of DENR said mangroves are very important for it is a spawning ground of fishes and a shelter belt of coastal communities during typhoon.
Lustica said Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) 7161 has explicitly banned the cutting of all species of mangroves. Section 43 of Presidential Decree (PD) 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines) also bars clear cutting operations in all mangrove swamps set aside for coast protection purposes. (EOB)