BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) -- Calling it a lengthy extension to leave the geohazard zones for almost a year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has filed legal cases against the illegal settlers in barangay Runruno in Quezon town here.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Edgar Martin said they have filed Unlawful Occupation or Destruction of Forest Lands and Grazing Lands cases against 32 illegal settlers who continue to defy government order, calling their immediate evacuation from the geo-hazard zones.

"We have waited long enough for them to vacate the geo-hazard areas. Most of them have already left but others refuse to heed our call and warning," he said.

Martin said out of the more than 400 illegal settlers spread out within the four sitios of barangay Runruno, 337 have been settled negotiably by the FCF Minerals Corporation which holds a Financial and Tecnical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) for their gold and molybdenum project in the area.

He said that teh evacuation and relocation of illegal settlers in barangay Runruno is one of the priority areas of the Build Back Better (BBB) Initiative of the national government through the DENR after vast flashfloods and landslides inundated most of the provinces and towns of Cagayan Valley last year due to typhoon.

The typhoon also triggered a massive landslide in barangay Runruno which claimed nine lives and injuries to the illegal settlers.

Martin said the relocation of the illegal settlers in Runruno is one of the priorities of the BBB to protect them from impending landslides in the geo-hazard zones.

He said a 2.1 hectare relocation site in barangay Boliwao in Quezon town is being developed for the illegal settlers in partnership with the National Housing Authority (NHA).

Martin however said a new batch of illegal settlers have built their houses in barangay Runruno's geohazard zones, hoping to get paid by the mining firm.

"The mining firm has already settled the claims of the previous illegal settlers but a new batch of illegal settlers have again occupied the previous illegal settlements. It shows that they want the mining firm to be a milking cow but we advised FCF Minerals Corp. officials to stop a repeat of the process," he said.

DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Director for Cagayan Valley Mario Ancheta said they have reiterated their call and warning for concerned local govenrment units in the region on the presence of geo-hazard areas in their jurisdiction and reminded them to initiate evacualtion and relocation measures in the wake of the coming rainy season.

Several illegal settlers in sitio BIt-ang in Runruno recently requested a dialogue with Governor Carlos Padilla, asking for legal assistance for the charges filed against them. (MDCT/BME/PIA Nueva Vizcaya)