WATCH. Governor’s Permit Holders Forum
A Governor’s Permit Holders’ Forum was held yesterday, April 12, 2022 at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City, attended by sand and gravel permit holders in the province.
The said forum aims to provide the permit holders and the project implementers an opportunity to hear from the national government agencies new policies affecting sand and gravel (SAG), and quarry extraction in the province, and on the transfer of functions on the processing and issuances of Certificates of Environmental Management and Community Relation Records (CEMCRR) and Social Development and Management Program (SDMP).
Regional Director of DENR-MGB Region 6, Engr. Raul Laput and Gov. Bong Lacson signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the transfer of the functions on the processing and issuances of CEMCRRs and SDMP to the Provincial Government, to help achieve the purpose of RA 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.
The MOU signing was witnessed by Negros Occ. Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, and PEMO Head, Atty. Julie Ann Bedrio.
As PEMO endeavors to strengthen its regulatory services and prepare itself for the devolved functions, this activity also served as venue to gather feedbacks from permit holders on how it can improve its services and work harmoniously with all stakeholders.
Gov. Lacson commended PEMO for leading the forum; he also reminded the permit holders that the permit given to them is a privilege to use natural resources judiciously, and not to exploit the limited natural reserves.
Gov. Lacson said that the provincial government is considering to limit the use of extracted materials solely for private and public projects within the province of Negros Occidental.
“To all our permittees, I want to give you my full trust and confidence, — that you will use the grant given to you responsibly and conscientiously, and it is my ardent hope that such trust will always be preserved and respected,” said Gov. Lacson.
The governor also shared what Pope Francis said about the environment, “May the relationship between man and nature not be driven by greed, to manipulate and exploit, but may the divine harmony between beings and creation be conserved in the logic of respect and care.”
The event was spearheaded by the Provincial Government through PEMO, Provincial-City Mining Rehabilitation Fund Committee (P-C/MRFC)-Negros Occidental, DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)- Region 6, and Negros Occidental Miners Permittees Association, Inc. (NOMPAI).
