By JEN BAYLON

The ongoing bulldozing of a coastal area at Barangay Caliling in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town, considered a protected zone for turtle nesting, has been halted.

Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara confirmed that the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Kabankalan City intervened after discovering that the bulldozing and rock extraction in Sitio Bil-at, were being conducted without the necessary permits.

Forester Lucia Salazar, Cenro-Kabankalan supervising environmental specialist, reported the absence of an Environmental Compliance Certificate for the project.

The development was reportedly spearheaded by a certain William Chua, who planned to convert the site into a jet ski area.

However, Salazar stated that such a development is impractical due to the rocky nature of the area and the potential impact on numerous coral cages nearby.

She emphasized that the site serves as a “nesting area” for sea turtles, rich in seagrass, which is crucial for their diet.

Cenro-Kabankalan has escalated the issue to the Environmental Management Bureau in Western Visayas for further action./JB, WDJ