Negros Occidental: Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Diocese of San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza have appealed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to intervene in the palm oil plantation project managed by Hacienda Asia Plantations Inc. (HAPI) in Candoni town, citing the absence of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
According to Philippines News Agency, the provincial government disclosed a letter from Governor Lacson dated June 9, addressed to DENR - Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) - Western Visayas Regional Director Ramar Niel Pascua. The letter requests a cease-and-desist order (CDO) against HAPI's land development activities. Lacson emphasized that HAPI failed to secure an ECC as required under the Philippine Environmental Assessment Impact System, specifically Presidential Decree No. 1586.
Lacson explained that the ECC is essential for ensuring that projects likely to have significant environmental impacts are thoroughly assessed and that measures are implemented to mitigate adverse effects. A multi-partite monitoring team (MMT) formed by the provincial government inspected the site on March 20 and instructed HAPI not to proceed until obtaining an ECC. Despite this, HAPI continued with its activities, disregarding environmental regulations.
Lacson urged EMB Region 6 (Western Visayas) to enforce environmental laws and regulations, emphasizing that issuing a CDO is crucial to compel HAPI to comply with the law and prevent further environmental harm. In another letter dated June 9, Lacson also sought urgent intervention from Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Raphael Lotilla regarding HAPI's operations in Candoni.
The palm oil plantation project spans 6,652 hectares across the villages of Gatuslao, Agboy, and Payauan. Bishop Alminaza, chair of the Wisdom Council of civil society organization Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE), called for an immediate response from the DENR to the governor's appeal and the people's demands. He stressed the urgency of addressing the ongoing environmental damage caused by HAPI's operations.
NICE secretary general Joshua Villalobos highlighted their active engagement with local officials and mobilization of public support through an online petition. He regarded the governor's move to seek DENR intervention as a significant step in their collective environmental justice efforts. The group reported that HAPI agreed to halt all earth-moving operations in Candoni following a dialogue with representatives from various organizations on June 11, although HAPI has not yet confirmed this.
On June 12, Candoni Mayor Ray Ruiz issued a 'final notice to comply' to HAPI CEO Alfred Joseph Araneta and the board of directors, demanding immediate compliance with environmental recommendations and cease-and-desist instructions from the MMT and the Office of the Provincial Governor of Negros Occidental.
