By CESAR JOLITO III

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has formally requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow the commercial clearing of dried lahar sediments deposited in Tamburong Creek in La Castellana town’s Barangay Biak na Bato.

“If we rely only on the equipment of the local government units and the province, it will take much longer to finish the clearing,” Lacson stressed, noting that commercial involvement would ease the workload while generating additional income for the provincial government.

Lacson is asking the DENR to issue a special permit for accredited contractors to haul the lahar deposits, saying this will significantly fast-track the ongoing clearing operations.

The special permit will also grant the governor the authority to manage the utilization of debris removed during the clearing process for rehabilitation and reconstruction projects within La Castellana.

It will also expedite the removal of volcanic materials from the creek, which has been identified as a critical measure to prevent potential flooding and mudflows that could endanger downstream communities.

Lacson also assured of strict monitoring, clarifying that contractors would only be allowed to extract lahar sediments — not other natural resources — and would be required to pay corresponding fees to the province.

The move was first tackled at a meeting of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Resource Management Committee at the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park office earlier this week.

DENR in Negros Island Region Executive Director Charlie Fabre, who chairs PAMB, said the resolution was agreed upon during the committee meeting.

The committee agreed to draft a resolution endorsing the request to the DENR central office.

The resolution is set for approval during the PAMB en banc meeting at the Provincial Capitol on September 25 before being transmitted to Manila for final action./CJ, WDJ