TUBA, Benguet—Mayor Florencio Bentres has ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine National Police to stop the illegal earthmoving and business activities that have started to flourish within portions of the Mount Sto. Tomas forest reservation.
One sitio in the area is the actual site of the fictional town of ‘La Presa’ in a romantic soap opera on television and has since attracted a high number of tourists.
Bentres said he had learned that some residents have started doing earth-moving activities to flatten a portion of the reservation leading to the ‘La Presa’ area while others have started business activities, all contrary to the writ of kalikasan issued against any improvements to be done within the watershed.
“We have to be alert on whatever prohibited activities that are being done in the area for us to be able to comply with the writ of kalikasan outlined by the Court of Appeals for the purpose. We have to perform our mandate as detailed in the writ so that we will not be penalized by the court,” Bentres stressed.
The earthmoving activities are said to improve the road leading to ‘La Presa’ and flatten a portion of the same which would have been rented out as parking areas.
According to the mayor, the DENR and PNP must do their jobs.
Bentres thanked concerned citizens in the area who continue to provide the local officials with the necessary information on such activities.
Concerned personnel of the local government continue to impose stringent regulations to ensure that the entry of visitors to ‘La Presa’ will be regulated.
