PENRO to resort: Stop sand, gravel extraction

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Nestor Canda has ordered a plush resort located at coastal Barangay Taguihon in Baclayon town, to cease further extraction of sand deposits from seabed not yet owned by the establishment.

“You are advised to immediately stop the sand and gravel extraction. Any activity conducted in the foreshore area without a foreshore lease is a clear violation of existing Environmental Laws and regulations,” said Canda in his letter dated Dec. 26, 2012 addressed to Joseph Garan, manager of the resort.

Canda cited an amended Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) issued last Nov. 12, that some 32,793 square meters of foreshore area applied by the resort management “has no foreshore lease yet issued by DENR,” adding that the “ECC does not entitle you to extract such sand and gravel deposits over this foreshore area.”

The extraction has been exposed by concerned resident-fishermen in this barangay for fear that their coastal area would be adversely affected.

Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) head Leonilo Lafuente of the provincial government, upon learning of the residents clamor, immediately inspected the area last week and saw for himself that sand deposits have been sucked by a mechanized gadget and hauled them nearby, a few meters of the shoreline fronting the resort.

Garan had a talk to Lafuente in the presence of some fishermen and he confirmed that the sand digging was intended to spruce up the shoreline as part of the resort development. Garan however showed no documents to show to Lafuente of the on-going activity as part of its expansion during the inspection.

Originally, the resort has acquired some titled 19,296 sq. meters of lot fronting the coastal area based on its ECC No. RO7-1011-0323 issued by DENR regional director Fernando P. Quililan.

This ECC has been amended per letter of the director to the resort manager last Nov. 12 but, this time, the resort area has been expanded to 32,793 sq.m of foreshore area as foreshore lease but no approval yet of its application for expansion. (FREEMAN)