- Land Area
- Mineral Production
- Mineral Reserves
- Watershed and Protected Areas
- Reforestation and Rehabilitation
- Environment-Friendly Technologies
- Enforcement Activities
- Provincial Mining Ordinance
- Geographic Information System
- Heightened Environmental Awareness
- Eco-Solid Waste Management Program
- Livelihood Projects
- Table 3.1
- Status of Land Classification by CENRO and City/Municipality (Jan 2004)
- Table 3.2 -
Volume and Value of Mining Production by Mineral (Negros Occ. 2001-2006)
- Table 3.3
- Mineral Ore Reserves by Municipality as of Dec 2004.
- Table 3.4 - Major Proclaimed Watershed Areas (Negros Occ Dec.2005).
- Table 3.5
- Summary of Protected Areas by Component (Negros Occ. 2006)
- Table 3.6A - Reforestation and Rehabilitation Sites (Negros Occ 1994-2007).
- Table 3.6B - Other Reforestation Programs (Negros Occ 2001-2007).
- Table 3.7A - Statistics on Enforcement and Protection Activities of Task Force Ilahas (Negros Occ. 2002-2007).
- Table 3.7B - Number of Members of Community-based Enforcement Groups (Negros Occ. 2003-2005)
- Table 3.8 - Summary of Approved Governor's Permit for Quarry, Sand and Gravel Extraction and Other Mineral Resources (Negros Occ. 2000-2007).
- Table 3.9 - Education, Information and Advocacy Conducted (Negros Occ. 2003-2005).
- Table 3.10 - Number of Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) Issued by DENR (Negros Occ. 2000-2005).
- Table 3.11 - Special Programs/Awards (Negros Occ. 2001-2006).
The data about a certain area’s natural resources and indicators relating to their respective environmental conditions are necessary in the formulation of policies and programs designed to bring about a more effective environmental protection and resource utilization. There has been a growing awareness and national concern on the country's natural resources and environmental conditions for the past years. This resulted from the development vision long espoused by the national and local leaders which implies a balance between resource utilization and the development, protection and conservation of the country's environment and natural resources. In this fashion, development will benefit not only today's generation but the future ones as well. All these concerns underscore the need for more reliable, timely and comprehensive environment-related data. These pieces of information are critical to the government, private sector and even to the international community in their formulation of measures and related interventions to safeguard the environment and natural resources while at the same time remedy the destruction and degradation of these areas.
Playing a major role in the lives of Negrenses, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has also been doing its share in the protection, preservation and rehabilitation of its environment being one of the 7-Point Agenda of the present administration. As a major thrust, it has allocated funds to support its various programs in the upland, lowland and coastal areas in close coordination with other Local Government Units (LGUs), national agencies and other non-government organizations. For all these conscious efforts, the province has been receiving awards locally and internationally. And to ensure future development initiatives for our environment more comprehensive and properly focused, the need for accurate and timely data are basic requirements to evaluate existing and implemented programs/projects aside from serving as bases for plans and future development directions. Thus, data on environment are gathered for the sector.
This chapter contains data on existing/available land, forest, mineral, watershed areas and environmental programs/activities in Negros Occidental that are collected from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Regional Social and Economic Trends (RSET) for Region VI, and the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO).
Sectoral HIghlights
The whole of Western Visayas occupies an area of 2,022,311 hectares. Negros Occidental has the largest land area among the 6 provinces with 792,607 hectares or 39.2 percent of the total land area in the region, 68 percent of which are alienable and disposable land while the remaining 32 percent is forest land area.
The total mineral production in Negros Occidental decreased by 63 percent in 2006 valued at PhP85,380,292 from P1,505,445,214 in 2001 because of non-production in metallic mineral and decrease in the non-metallic production.
As
of 2004, Negros Occidental has an estimated geologic reserve of
25,200,000 MT primary gold ore that can be found mostly in Sipalay
City, Negros Occidental.
There are 3 major watershed areas in the province, namely: Bago River Watershed; Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed; and Kabankalan Watershed with total areas of 61,926 hectares, 10,211 hectares, and 432 hectares, respectively. Another river that has been important in the lives of Negrenses is the Upper Caliban River located at Mt. Managaksak along Mount Mandalagan Mountain Range. Though not yet proclaimed as a Protected Watershed, this river has been the source of Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA).
Bago River Watershed Forest and Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed Forest are also proclaimed as Protected Areas. Other Protected Areas in Negros Occidental are Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park which covers an area of 24,558 hectares and Sagay Marine Reserve in Sagay City with 31,000 hectares.
Three sites are currently undergoing necessary preparations for its declaration as Marine Protected Areas (MPA). These are Hulao Hulao Reef in Brgy. Caliling, Cauayan, Campoma-nes Bay in Brgy. 4 and Brgy. Maricalum in Sipalay and Palm Leaf in Brgy. Pook, Hinobaan.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), has 49 coastal sites for reforestation and rehabilitation programs in 2006. 43 sites were reforested reaching a total area of 45.37 hectares.
Adoption
of environment friendly technologies, such as Slopping Agricultural
Land Technology (SALT), have been applied and implemented as early as
1993.
Community-based enforcement groups, such as Bantay Bukid Brigade and Bantay Katunggan, have been created to act as forest guards to undertake monitoring and surveillance activities to strengthen enforcement activities.
The Provincial Mining Ordinance provides procedures in the regulation of quarry and small-scale mining operations. The Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) has been operational since 1995.
A Geographic Information System (GIS) has been in operation since 2000 as a tool in environmental management.
With the continued drive towards massive information campaign, Negrenses are now more aware of the importance of conserving and protecting our natural resources.
The Provincial Government institutionalized an active Provincial Solid Waste Management Board with functions to plan and implement programs of the province on solid waste management.
The Provincial Government also provide alternative projects to partner beneficiaries in coastal and upland areas to lessen dependency on forest and marine resources as their sources of income.
THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL INFORMATION CENTER
Provincial Planning and Development Center
Provincial Administration Center
Bacolod City
Philippines 6100