By CESAR JOLITO III

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is verifying reports that Hacienda Asia Plantations Incorporated (HAPI) has allegedly resumed certain activities at its palm oil plantation in Barangay Gatuslao, despite being under a cease-and-desist order (CDO) since June.

According to Vicente Losbañes, officer-in-charge of EMB in the Negros Island Region, their office has received information that HAPI has continued planting palm seedlings and forest trees inside its plantation area even after the CDO was issued to halt all quarrying operations, road construction and related activities pending approval of its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

“We are validating if these reported activities are in violation of the CDO,” Losbañes said.

“We will also coordinate with the DENR central office to clarify whether such planting activities are allowed while the ECC issue remains unresolved,” he added.

HAPI holds an Integrated Forest Management Agreement with the DENR covering 6,652 hectares in Barangay Gatuslao.

The company has also submitted amendments to its 25-year Comprehensive Development Management Plan, but these have yet to be approved by the department.

Losbañes noted that when the CDO was issued, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson only ordered the stoppage of earth-moving and other land development works, without specifically prohibiting the planting of trees and palms.

However, Losbañes emphasized that if the EMB’s verification confirms continued operations that go beyond what is allowed under the CDO, HAPI may face additional sanctions.

“If found in violation, we will issue a notice of violation and a stoppage order to ensure full compliance,” he said./CJ, WDJ