While speaking before the Governor’s Permit Holders’ Forum yesterday at the Negros First Residences function hall in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson touted the province’s natural resources.
“Negros Occidental is one of the most gifted provinces in terms of natural resources,” the governor stated. “I want to be forthright with you that the permit given to you is a privilege to use and enjoy our resources, not a license to abuse our finite natural reserves.”
“Sustainable environmental management is one of the most important thrusts of our administration’s development agenda,” he added.
Over 200 individuals attended the event, which sought to strengthen partnerships by generating input for future relevant policies and reinforce mining regulations in the province.
Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Region VI director, Engr. Raul Laput; Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Forester Edgardo Rostata; and Negros Occidental Miners Permittees Association Inc. Vice President Allan Joseph Arceo served as resource person and discussed new and relevant policies pertaining to small-scale mining practices and other relevant issues.
The forum also provided permit holders a venue to articulate their concerns and pursue possible solutions./WDJ