DENR CENRO Catanauan conducts public consultation on the establishment of Mulanay Watershed Forest Reserve as protected area under E-NIPAS

SAN FRANCISCO, QUEZON - The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Catanauan, Quezon through the Protected Area Management Office of Mulanay Watershed Forest Reserve conducted a public consultation among the stakeholders of Mulanay Watershed Forest Reserve (MWFR) in Brgy. Cawayan I, San Francisco, Quezon on September 15, 2021, to gather their views and opinions regarding the establishment of the same as a protected area under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS).

 

The said stakeholders were represented by the concerned Municipal and Barangay Government Units, Peoples Organization, Academe, and other members of the Protected Area Management Board.

 

Public consultation is a requirement for the establishment of protected areas pursuant to the Section 5 (a.2) of the Republic Act No. 7586 as amended by Republic Act 11038 or the E-NIPAS Act of 2018. Under this law, all remaining Initial Components have to undertake Public Consultations three (3) years from the effectivity of the said Act.

 

MWFR is one of the initial components under E-NIPAS Act of 2018 which has to undertake public consultation to determine the necessary action relevant to its establishment from initial component to a protected area. The stakeholders’ views and opinions are crucial as it serve as a basis of the Senate and the House of Representatives in deciding whether to declare the area as a permanent component under E-NIPAS, or not.

 

The stakeholders proposed the name "San Francisco Protected Landscape (SFPL)" should it be declared a permanent PA, considering that the same is located in San Francisco, Quezon.

 

“In the event that this area becomes a Protected Area, we have to expect that there will be a provision for every activities depending on its classification, but it does not mean that you cannot enter the area and that all other things are prohibited as long as your purpose is according to the provision, the PAMB will permits,” CENRO Telan explained to the stakeholders.

 

Municipal Vice Mayor Kresna Fernandez and other sectors signified their support to the DENR by signing a pledge of commitment and a letter of concurrence. The Local Government Unit of San Francisco, Quezon was thankful for the transparent activity of CENRO Catanauan, for the improvement of their very own MWFR.###