Valencia: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is engaging in consultations across several towns in Negros Oriental to discuss the proposed declaration of Mt. Talinis and Cuernos de Negros as a protected area.

According to Philippines News Agency, Manric Barillo, the provincial head of the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), stated that consultations are ongoing in various barangays within Valencia, Dauin, Zamboanguita, and Siaton. These areas have been identified as part of the proposed protected zone.

Barillo explained that the consultations are integral to the Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA) being conducted by the DENR. This assessment aims to determine whether Mt. Talinis and Cuernos de Negros should be officially designated as a natural park or a broader protected area. He elaborated that while a natural park is a specific category meant for regions with notable scenic value, preserved for scientific and recreational purposes, a protected area is a more general term for spaces dedicated to long-term conservation efforts.

The proposal encompasses 6,637 hectares of Mt. Talinis, deliberately excluding regions such as the geothermal reserve managed by the Energy Development Corporation. The ENRD, in collaboration with the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, is assisting the DENR in conducting the PASA within the Negros Island Region and Region 7. This process is a prerequisite before acquiring a sponsor for the legal declaration of the area.

Barillo emphasized that the declaration of Mt. Talinis as a protected area is crucial for safeguarding its rich biodiversity, which includes a wide array of flora and fauna. Mt. Talinis is recognized as the second-highest peak on Negros Island, following Mt. Kanlaon, and is the tallest peak within the Cuernos de Negros mountain range.