THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Monday that it is reviewing the environmental compliance of 131 projects built in protected areas.
“There are 131 Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement (PACBRMA) in over 36 Protected Areas. All of these are now under review,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said at a briefing.
The PACBRMA is an agreement entered into by and between the DENR and organized tenured migrant communities or interested indigenous peoples in protected areas and buffer zones. They have a term of 25 years, renewable for another 25 years.
Ms. Yulo-Loyzaga added that an initial 10 to 11 agreements in Northern Luzon will be under review for compliance. The results are set to be released within the month.
“We needed to determine that those are still compliant or whether they are non-compliant and to see whether there are (grounds) for cancellation because for whatever reason hindi ginagamit nang tama or hindi ginagamit (it is not being used correctly or is not being used at all),” she said.
The DENR had ordered an inventory of all structures within protected areas, pending the review.
“All of that is being done now on satellite and on the ground,” she said.
Last week, the DENR suspended the processing of all environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) by its regional offices.
She had ordered that all ECC applications be submitted to the Environmental Management Bureau, the Biodiversity Management Bureau, and the Office of the Secretary for final review and approval.
“We are also engaging our multisectoral advisory council… they will be working with us on the comprehensive evaluation of the status of these protected areas,” Ms. Yulo-Loyzaga said.
The DENR has canceled the PACBRMA of the Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. due to the misuse of the protected area. The agreement spans 353 hectares in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
She said that violations include the establishment of residences, the construction of checkpoints, and failure to submit the required monthly, quarterly, or annual reports about the implementation of its Community-based Resource Management Plan.
Among the other findings were the construction of infrastructure like access roads, checkpoints, and a radio station.
The Senate has investigated allegations of human trafficking, exploitation, forced labor, and child sexual abuse at the site.
“The DENR has been working with the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the provincial government since the suspension of the PACBRMA in September 2023,” she said.
She added that the agencies are working to reintegrate and resettle the affected occupants.
“There are 404 households of tenured migrants in the PACBRMA area that will be relocated,” she said. — Adrian H. Halili
