By CESAR JOLITO III

The Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park – Protected Area Management Board (MKNP-PAMB) has approved a resolution granting authority to Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to issue a special permit for the clearing of lahar sediments at Taburong Creek in La Castellana town’s Barangay Biak na Bato.

The approval, made during the MKNP-PAMB en banc meeting at the Capitol Social Hall yesterday morning, seeks to address the flooding threat in nearby communities after lahar deposits blocked the natural water flow of the creek.

Lacson earlier proposed allowing private contractors to undertake commercial clearing operations, noting that lahar buildup has diverted water into residential areas, increasing the risk of widespread flooding.

The MKNP-PAMB also passed a separate resolution creating a technical working group tasked to draft a comprehensive dredging master plan to ensure long-term management of waterways affected by lahar deposits from Kanlaon.

The meeting was presided over by Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Negros Island Region (NIR) Executive Director Charlie Fabre, who chairs MKNP-PAMB.

Among those present were Office of Civil Defense in NIR Director Donato Sermeno III, MKNP Park Superintendent Philip Lechoncito, local officials, and representatives from the disaster risk reduction offices of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

Officials emphasized that clearing operations will balance community safety with environmental safeguards, as the creek lies within the protected landscape of Kanlaon./CJ, WDJ