Not only the Mt.Kanlaon Natural Park has a zero budget but also the newly-declared Northern Negros Natural Park.

Board Member Reynaldo Depasucat, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on Environment and Natural Resources, yesterday said the national government should not take for granted the creation of natural parks if it wants its environmental programs to succeed.

During a recent meeting of members of the Northern Negros Forest Reserve Management Council, Depasucat said a DENR official admitted that NNNP has no budget for its initial operations in the 2006 General Appropriations Act.

President Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 895 that converts the Northern Negros Forest Reserve into a natural park on Aug. 15 last year. It consists 80,454.hectares and straddles the cities of Salvador Benedicto, Murcia, Talisay, Silay, E.B.Magalona, Calatrava and Toboso, as well as cities of Victorias, Cadiz, San Carlos, Sagay and Escalante.

The provincial council of Negros Occidental yesterday unanimously approved a resolution authored by Depasucat, that calls on DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes and the House of Representatives to provide regular funding in the GAA for the operation of all natural parks.

The NNNP which is now a component of the Philippine National Protected Area System along with the Sagay Marine Reserve and MKNP, is also considered the largest watershed of Negros Occidental and a wildlife sanctuary of endangered species of flora and fauna.

Of the different forested areas in two provinces of Negros island, NNNP has also the largest remaining forest cover estimated at 22,288.80 hectares, the DENR says.

Last month, Julie Rex Molavin, MKNP Protected Area Superintendent, also complained that his office which supervises the preservation and protection of Mt. Kanlaon Park, also got a zero budget.

The Kanlaon Park covers 24,557 hectares comprised of the upland areas of Bago, Murcia, La Carlota, La Castellana, Moises Padilla and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Oriental Negros.*GPB

back to top