Negros Occ. gov asks plantation developer to stop ‘earthmoving’ work

Negros Occidental map. INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has called for a halt of all earthmoving activities at an oil palm plantation being developed in Candoni town.

Lacson, in a June 5 letter to Alfred Joseph Araneta, chief executive officer of Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (Hapi), said any activity within the Forest Management Agreement area being conducted by the company should stop pending its compliance with government requirements, including an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

The governor said the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources has also issued a cease-and-desist order to Hapi.

“If they have any respect for the provincial government, I hope they (Hapi) will comply until we can resolve this issue,” he said.

Lacson, in a June 9 letter to Environmental Management Bureau Western Visayas Director Ramar Niel Pascua, also requested the bureau’s issuance of a cease and desist order against Hapi for failing to secure an ECC.

The governor said he also wrote to Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla calling for a halt to Hapi’s activities pending its compliance with government requirements.

The Inquirer reached out to Araneta through phone calls and a text message but he has yet to respond as of June 15. /cb