Last week, the Group of Environmental Socialists, alongside the Door Step To New Life Foundation Inc., held a dialogue at the office of Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Ken Furuyama with Atty. Racquel Escalona of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Remia Buaron of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Chief Enforcement Unit to discuss illegal structures inside the Northern Negros Natural Park.
During the discussion, in response to the DENR claiming they are currently in the process of validating the matter, the environmental groups questioned the government agency as to why no cases have been filed against any prominent individuals despite a cease and desist order being previously issued, which was later lifted by the Protected Area Management Board.
Environmental socialist leader Randy James Rojo said DENR has been “slow” in addressing the issue and delivering justice.
The group urged all concerned government agencies to take action on the matter and file charges if warranted; if not, the environmentalists expressed their intentions to filed charges against the government agencies.

***
Project Engineer Ferdinand S. Magada recently submitted an investigation report to Bacolod City District Engineering Office head, Engr. Abraham Villareal, regarding the ceiling collapse that occurred at the Domingo Lacson National High School.
According to the report, the collapse occurred as a result of “somebody who went up in the ceiling.”
The contractor for the project said repeated robberies occurred at the school, where construction materials were often stolen. The claims were also backed by pictures of unidentified individual climbing up to the ceiling.
They affirmed all materials used were “in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.”/WDJ