CALAMBA CITY (PIA) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Calabarzon issued over 100 show cause orders (SCOs) against individuals found to have built structures in state-protected areas in Laguna. 

The Laguna Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) said 111 individuals built their structures in areas designated as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and game preserves under Presidential Proclamation No. 1636, s. 1977.

From May to August 2023, at least 72 violators have responded to the show cause orders and voluntarily demolished their structures in the municipalities of Sta. Maria, Siniloan, Famy, Pangil, Cavinti, Nagcarlan, Liliw, and Majayjay. 

“We are still in the process of exhausting administrative remedies, specifically the filing of illegal forest occupancy cases under Section 78. We will attach (as evidence) the notices received as well as geo-tagged photos and certifications we issued,” Forester Daniel Arthur said.

The DENR CALABARZON has also issued notices to violators of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS) Act. 

“The penalties under this Act are more severe, as there are two protected areas within the third and fourth districts of Laguna Province - Mount Banahaw and San Cristobal. The treatment and legal actions will depend on the location of the structures in the DENR's map,” Arthur added.

The Laguna PENRO has assured that they are exploring all possible administrative remedies before resorting to legal actions. Local officials remain hopeful that the illegal occupants will voluntarily vacate the area before legal actions become necessary. 

“The process may be lengthy, but we were able to start something,” said Laguna PENRO Eriberto Saños.

Two areas in Laguna, namely the Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal protected landscape are covered under ENIPAS Act as protected areas while portions of Rizal, Laguna, and Quezon provinces are declared as national park, wildlife sanctuaries, and game preserves under Presidential Proclamation 1636. (PB/PIA 4A)