Intrusion in Bataan protected areas to be investigated

ORANI, Bataan – A series of complaints filed by concerned individuals regarding the reported forest degradation in some parts of the province prompted Bataan First District Representative Herminia B. Roman to call the attention of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) officials

In a recent press conference held at her district office here, Congresswoman Roman said she already talked to the DENR-Bataan’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Raul Mamac to heed the complaints of the Magbukun Tribe Aetas in Barangay Bangkal in Abucay town.

“Dapat paimbestigahan ng DENR yung mga nababalitaan kong mga pagpuputol ng mga puno na yan lalo na sa mga protected areas,” Roman said.

“Nabulabog po ang widllife sa amin, wala nang mahuling labuyo at baboy ramo kaya apektado ang kabuhayan ng aming mga kabarangay dito dahil sa road project na iyan,” village chief of Bangkal Amante Inocencio lamented.

Meanwhile, in the Pastulan and Mabiga areas in Hermosa town, Aeta villagers along with biking enthusiasts complain about losing their livelihood source and a biking trail due to an ongoing solar energy plant project inside an area under the jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

The company responsible for the project said in recent media reports that they have earlier secured an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the DENR even before the project started.

An excerpt from a copy of a memorandum from DENR national office dated February 5, 2013 stated that cutting of trees shall be allowed in “renewable energy projects such as geothermal, hydrothermal, dendrothermal, solar and wind projects…other priority activities of government and government approved projects and programs approved and certified as a priority project of the President.”