Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) said he is pushing for multi-sectoral participation in the governance and management of the North Negros Natural Park, which is a key factor in protecting the area.

Marañon, who authored House Bill No. 3087, also known as the North Negros Natural Park bill, said he sponsored it, after recognizing that each sector not only has a stake in the park, but that each one has something to contribute.

“North Negros National Park needs to be protected and preserved,” he said, adding that, there are so many values at stake for these resources, and forward looking measures have to be undertaken now, in order to preserve them for the future.

Unabated timber-poaching and charcoal-making activities in the hinterlands of EB Magalona and Murcia, led to the destruction of about 10 hectares of forest cover.

Flashfloods also hit several towns and cities in the third district of Negros Occidental, which hinterlands form part of the North Negros Natural Park.

In his speech at the 19th Provincial Environment Week celebration at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, Maranon said all threats and harms from natural disasters are nothing but the result of man’s own action.

“We have been greatly blessed with our natural resources, but we have likewise been very abusive and even greedy”, he said.

Though the provincial government of Negros Occidental has been consistently recognized for its environmental management by the Department of Interior and Local Government, Marañon said Negrenses should not be complacent.

He added that the new generation of Negrenses should be the ones to restore the bounty of nature in Negros. * GPB

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