THREE structures owned by a resort owner were found to be located within the 20-meter easement zone of the Matutinao river near the Kawasan Falls in Badian town, northern Cebu.
This was the result of the ground relocation survey done by personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) last May.
The three structures consisting of a one-storey kitchen building, a three-storey resort and a convenience store were owned by a cooperative and resort owner Wilhelmino Saldua.
DENR indicated that the one storey kitchen building is built within the waterways of the falls.
The three-storey resort made of concrete materials is built inside a titled land but within the 20-meter easement of the river.
The front portion of the building is outside the titled land and 20-meter easement of the river but encroached the waterways leading to the Kawasan Falls.
The convenience store is built within the titled land but within the 20-meter easement of the river. The front portion also encroached on the waterways, the DENR-7 said.
Saldua’s titled land was formerly registered in the names of the heirs of Gervacio Deluvio.
Another structure owned by the Kawasan Nature Park Multi-Purpose Cooperative was said to be inside the 20-meter easement zone.
The front portion of the building is outside the titled land and easement zone but it has also encroached the waterway of the falls of about 11 square meters.
The lot where the cooperative is located is owned by the heirs of Matero Deluveo.
The results of the ground survey has been received by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) this week. But the issuance of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the buildings has not been verified.
The report stated that one of the representatives of the Environmental Management Bureau- DENR 7 was absent that day. Kawasan Falls is still closed for tourists until today.
Earlier, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued an executive order for the closure of the falls to tourists after illegal structures have destroyed the natural image of the falls.