NEGROS Occidental – The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of this province has mandated the immediate removal of paint on rocks found in the riverbed at Purok Gayas, Barangay Minoyan, Murcia town.
A video of attractive, colorful rocks within a resort in Murcia recently went viral in social media, prompting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the PENRO to conduct an investigation and coordination with the Community ENR Office of Bago City – Surveillance and Intelligence Unit, to ascertain the discovery of what could be a case of vandalism.
“Painting on natural rocks could potentially threaten the water quality of the river,” said PENR Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya.
After its probe, the team concluded that painting boulders and rocks with different colors is an act of vandalism and against the law, which could potentially threaten the water quality in the area.
Gerangaya ordered the immediate removal of paint using less harmful solutions.
“We all wanted to enjoy our environment and its natural beauty, not the painted one. Attracting tourists for potential economic growth should not be an excuse for any resort owner and/or businessman to vandalize and damage our natural resources,” said DENR Region officer-in-charge regional executive director Raul Lorilla.
As the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, and development of the country’s environment and natural resources, the DENR-6 will look into the possibility of giving sanctions to person(s) involved in vandalizing/painting the rocks and boulders.
Meanwhile, on Sept. 25, 2024, the Environmental Management Bureau investigated the area and enforced provisions of Republic Act 9275, or the Clean Water Act./PN
