Green Alert: Illegal structures exist inside natural park
BACOLOD CITY -- Green Alert, an environmentalist group, has cited the presence of some illegal structures inside the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) when they had their “Panikang-tikang” or trekking activity there.
In their letter to Governor Isidro P. Zayco, Vice Governor Emilio Yulo, III, PENRO Jessie Vego, Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson and PEMO Edwin Abanil yesterday, they informed them that “every year, Green Alert Negros Environmental Network, Inc. organizes a series of environmental events to educate the Negrenses on the fragile state of our ecosystem. These environmental events provide the participants the opportunity to commune with nature at the same time interact with the local communities surrounding the ecosystem,” they said.
One of the events that Green Alert staged was the “Panikang-tikang”, which is an environmental trekking activity inside Don Salvador Benedicto, Northern Negros Natural Park covering Kumaliskis, Lantawan, Balatan-og Falls and Nursery area. The said trek was held from April 19-21, 2009 and was joined by about 25 trekkers from different organizations in the province.
During the three-day trek, the participants were able to talk to the community and were able to observe some issues inside the Natural Park. All of the participants’ observations were discussed and laid down in the Declaration specifically the current irrigation project in Barangay Kumaliskis where most of the local folks don’t know of its purpose. The Declaration also highlights the ever growing construction and existence of illegal structures inside the NNNP.
“We cannot allow any industrial development and infrastructure program to exist in the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) or in any portion of the remaining forests of Negros that could render irreversible destruction to the forest ecosystem. With only 4.7% forest cover left in Negros, we stand firm on the decision: Our forest are non-negotiable,” the group stressed.