• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
About 132 families residing inside the Mt. Kanlaon protected zone, who engaged in farming, may face charges if they do not vacate the area, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources disclosed on Thursday.
Charlie Fabre, DENR regional director for Negros Island Region, who attended the 4th quarter meeting of the Regional Development Council of Negros Island Region in Bacolod City, said that they will be sending letters to the 132 families, urging them to voluntarily vacate the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ).
Fabre noted that the Mt. Kanlaon danger zone was transformed from a forest into an agricultural production area.
The provincial government has already purchased land to be used as a relocation side for the affected residents in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
Fabre disclosed that some of the affected families are also residents of Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
DENR investigations showed that a large portion of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP) is composed of open barren areas and grassland, or planted with assorted agricultural crops, which cannot hold heavy torrential rains.
If they will not vacate, we have the option to file a case against them for illegal occupation in a protected area, Fabre said.*
