La Trinidad: The local government unit (LGU) of La Trinidad, along with residents, has successfully obtained a temporary restraining order to protect the Shilan Communal Forest. This legal action comes as a relief to the community, including children, who depend on the forest for vital resources.
According to Philippines News Agency, the case was initiated by the LGU in 2020 after discovering unauthorized bulldozing activities by defendants in the communal forest. This unauthorized activity posed a threat to the forest, which is a crucial source of water and one of the few remaining green patches in the area. Bartolome Baldas, a reelected town councilor and the municipal legal officer at the time, emphasized the importance of protecting the forest for both current and future generations.
The Regional Trial Court Branch 10 issued a Temporary Environment Protection Order (TEPO) and mandated the defendants to restore the damaged portions of the forest. The restoration includes installing slope protection and drainage systems to prevent further landslides. The court's decision requires the defendants to bear the cost of these restorative measures, supervised by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR) and the local government of La Trinidad.
Additionally, the court ordered the defendants to halt all excavation and developmental activities in the area and allow unimpeded access to the DENR, local government, and their agents to ensure the forest's protection and rehabilitation. The court's decision, dated June 10, was officially received by the municipality on June 13.
Lawyer Victor Singa Jr., the current municipal legal officer, expressed the LGU's commitment to exhausting all legal remedies to protect the area from further damage. Should the defendants choose to appeal, the LGU plans to take necessary measures to safeguard the environment and the community.
Romeo Salda, the incumbent mayor and Provincial Board member-elect, hailed the court's decision as a victory for the town. He noted that prior to the court case, the LGU had issued cease and desist orders and notices of violation, which the defendants ignored, leading to the legal action.
Salda also highlighted the need to review the status of all communal forests in La Trinidad and other areas in the province to ensure the availability of water for agriculture and preserve the forests for future generations. This case is not the first of its kind; another involving the Puguis Communal Forest is pending before the Supreme Court.
