AYUNGON, Negros Oriental — Three Special Use Agreements in Protected Areas (SAPA) applications which were deliberated, reviewed and evaluated by Site Management Units (SMUs) whose projects area within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) have been endorsed by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Executive Committee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary’s approval, DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Maximo O. Dichoso informed.

The applications are from Pryce Gases, Inc. for its port facilities in this town; Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT)’s for submarine communication facilities in Toledo City, Cebu and Calatrava, Negros Occidental; and the Toledo City local government unit for the Toledo City Hotel.

SAPA is a binding instrument between the DENR through the PAMB which may be issued within protected areas except in Strict Nature Reserves and shall be confined only to the management zones of the protected area appropriate for the purpose indicated in the application.

Dichoso has urged concerned local officials to get a copy of the detailed plan stated in every endorsed SAPA for transparency.

“The effective management of protected areas should encourage cooperation between and among stakeholders to manage and develop the appropriate zones of protected areas through special use agreements,” Dichoso said.

Calatrava Mayor Araceli Somosa has asked for a copy of detailed plan of PLDT’s proposed submarine communication facilities.

For his part, Dichoso made sure that all applications were accepted, reviewed, and endorsed by SMU Cluster II Negros Oriental and Cebu SMU after all such mandatory requirements as Sangguniang Bayan (SB) resolutions, Environmental

Compliance Certificate (ECC) and other permits have been complied with.

“The PAMB, through the protected area office shall conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of the progress or status of developments by the SAPA holder and submit monitoring reports to the PAMB chair,” he added.

The PAMB Executive Committee recently deliberated and favorably endorsed the said projects in a form of a PAMB resolution for the DENR Secretary’s approval.