THE Group of Environmental Socialists Inc. (Goes) has slammed the road projects from Calatrava going to Cadiz City and Barangay Patag in Silay City, as well as the dredging project in coastal and river areas of E.B. Magalona.
The group, in a statement, said it is seeking clarification on the ongoing road construction inside the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) and the proposed dredging project in E.B. Magalona town.
It is asking concerned government agencies as to how can the projects operate, and how the cutting of trees is conducted inside the NNNP without submitting the copy of Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural officer (DENR-Cenro).
"We have sent a formal communication letter to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Edgardo Rostata and we are dismayed by his response regarding the project," the group said, adding that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas also failed to respond regarding the memorandum letter issued by DPWH First District in Talisay City.
Likewise, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-Western Visayas has failed to respond after due demand, it claimed.
"We will submit a final demand for them to answer our queries and to determine environmental hazards and violations caused by these projects if there's any," it said, adding that "more so, on the dredging project in E.B. Magalona."
Goes said they do not want to swallow same excuses again, "where the laws and policies are circumvented and plans are reneged to accommodate dubious projects."
"We will continue to expose the ugly truth and the gross neglect of duty and unbecoming of public servants," it said.
The group said it is calling all non-government organizations in Negros Island and concerned government agencies to look at these matters in light of the Disaster Risk and Reduction Month celebration.
It claimed that if these projects push through, they will greatly contribute in the alteration and collapse of the natural resources resulting in disaster.