Informal settlers destroy mangrove areas in Palawan

In a bid to make a home, informal settlers destroyed a portion of a mangrove forest in Palawan's Puerto Princesa City, according to a report by Chino Gaston on "24 Oras."

The informal settlers cut down several mangrove trees in Barangay Matahimik while some portions looked as if they had been landscaped like a resort.

Due to a fence built by the settlers, the cut-down trees were not visible from the highway.

Presidential Proclamation 2152 had declared the whole province a mangrove and swamp forest reserve while Presidential Decree 705 prohibited the cutting of mangrove trees.

"Ito po ay mayroong demolition order at bawal ho sa mga kababayan ho natin na magtayo ho ng istraktura sa mangrove areas," Alex Hormoso, of the City Anti Squatting Division, said.

"So yan po ay pinagbabawal kung halimbawa may mga kabakawan ho diyan, eh, bawal ho manirahan ang bawat isa," he added.

On Friday, personnel from the Puerto Princesa local government destroyed the fence and structures built by the informal settlers. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News