Land sales discouraged in Benguet forest reserve

DISH These satellite dishes, operated by government and telecommunication companies, are what makes Mt. Sto. Tomas an iconic site when seen from Baguio City. EV ESPIRITU / INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

BAGUIO CITY—The government is discouraging people from speculating for lands at Mt. Sto. Tomas, which is now shielded by a court issued environmental protection order.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said stopping property sales at the mountain straddling Baguio City and Tuba town in Benguet province is one of the steps undertaken by the government to address a concern raised by Baguio Bishop Carlito Cenzon about lots being offered to buyers.

In a Jan. 20 letter to the DENR, Cenzon said he went to Mt. Sto. Tomas on Jan. 11 and found “for sale” billboards put up by some residents. This was in violation of the permanent environmental protection order (Pepo) issued by the Court of Appeals, he said.

Acknowledging Cenzon’s concerns, Ralph Pablo, DENR Cordillera director, said the agency has prepared cases against Pepo violators but declined to give details.

Writ of Kalikasan

Cenzon and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas led a group which petitioned and won from the Supreme Court a Writ of Kalikasan covering the Mt. Sto. Tomas forest reservation in May 2015.

The church leaders went to court following the discovery of a road excavation through the mountain forest that polluted a water source.

But the Sto. Tomas writ drew public attention because it also stopped a television network from using a community there as its soap opera location called “La Presa,” which had drawn tourists.

The writ and the Pepo froze all development projects at the forest.

The Pepo stopped more than 600 families settling there from making improvements of their houses and vegetable gardens without the permission of DENR.

16 new houses

But Cenzon said 16 new houses were built after the writ was issued. He also said he saw 14 newly renovated houses there. He said several inns and a restaurant in Mt. Sto. Tomas built new view decks, also in violation of the Pepo prescription.

One of the improved settlements the bishop discussed in the letter belongs to Baguio Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr., who bought the lot for conversion into an eco-tourism resort.

Aliping was accused of ordering the road excavation that polluted a water source of the city. The lawmaker denied the accusation.

He said he had questioned the writ and the Pepo in the Supreme Court, arguing that he played no part in the excavation. Vincent Cabreza and Kimberlie Quitasol, Inquirer Northern Luzon