MANILA—A Writ of Kalikasan has been issued by the Court of Appeals (CA) and made permanent a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) to bar the undertaking of any activity that may lead to the destruction of the Mount Santo Tomas Forest Reserve in Tuba, Benguet.
It covers the Sitio Pungayan in Tuba, which is the actual site of the fictional town of La Presa in the hit ABS-CBN’s “Forevermore”.
The story of the teleserye revolves around the quiet village which has now become a tourist attraction attracting more and more visitors.
Earlier, a May 10 thanksgiving concert at Sitio Pungayan was cancelled due to “environmental concerns” raised regarding the event’s venue.
Through the writ and TEPO, CA ordered the Baguio City Representative Nicasio Aliping, Tuba Mayor Florencio Bentrez, Municipal (–foul word(s) removed–)sor Preudencio Pinkisan, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DENR secretary Ramon Paje, Environmental management Bureau (EMB), and the Tuba Police to protect the preserved area.
Through the granted plea of petitioners led by Bishop Carlito Cenzon and Archbishop Socrates Villegas, who sought for the issuance of the writ and TEPO “due to anthropogenic activities within the Mount Santo Tomas forest Reserve” and due to the “on going destruction of portions”, the respondents were also tasked to submit a report to the CA.
The quarterly report of activities undertaken in accordance with the decision will tell fi the respondent really do their tasks.
H/T: ABS-CBN News; Photo from Rappler.
