The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is currently working with other relevant government agencies to push an "integrated approach" for the affected residents of Sitio Kapihan, Barangay Sering in Socorro town amid the suspension of the protected area agreement.

This was bared by Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga during the Senate's deliberation of the Proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program of the DENR and its attached agencies on Wednesday.

Loyzaga clarified that the DENR has only suspended the Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement or PCBRMA with the Socorro Bayanihan Service Incorporated pending the ongoing investigation of the group's alleged violations.

At the hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros raised the possible implications of the suspended accord to more than 3,500 residents currently staying in the area.

Loyzaga said the DENR will meet with the heads of the Department of Interior and the Local Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Justice to further discuss the supposed "integrated approach" concerning the members of the SBSI and those residing in Sitio Kapihan.

She said the SBSI leadership has already received a copy of the suspension order of its existing protected area agreement with the DENR.

"Just to update, we are now in coordination with Secretary Benhur Abalos, Secretary Remulla of the DOJ, and Secretary Rex Gatchalian for an integrated approach to the investigations regarding this particular situation so there will be a meeting tomorrow," she added.

DENR Undersecretary Joselin Marcus Fragada recalled that the former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and former DILG chief Ed Año conducted an ocular inspection in the area in 2019 amid the pressing violations of the SBSI group to the agreement.

Fragada said among the violations are the SBSI's restrictions in the entry of farmer non-member who has farm lot situated within the PACBRMA; the alleged establishment of the checkpoint and military training within the PACBRMA; the resignation of teachers, men in uniform, and elected barangay officials to reside in the area; as well as the establishment of structures within the PACBRMA area.

"As early as 2019, there was an investigation done already regarding certain issues, in the part of the DENR, the PACBRMA is a tenurial instrument that we give to tenured migrants in protected areas, mostly to give them a chance of livelihood, that's the main intention, under that PCBRAMA agreement there was no condition there that you can live in the area unless you're a tenured migrant and it is proven that we have a list of registered tenured migrants in the specific area where the PACBRMA is," Fragada explained.

He added that the last action of SBSI that the DENR required them was to craft a community-based resources management plan or CBRMP.

Fragada noted that the SBSI was able to submit it for 2019-2023 but it was not adopted.

"So the DENR told them to revise until such time, 2021 and 2022, our regional office continually reminded them of updating the CBRMP the plan for this area," he said. "Until it reached 2023, as mentioned by the good secretary we did issue the suspension letter."

Fragada said the DENR has suspended the actual privileges and rights of SBSI as a PACBRMA holder.

"We already created an investigation team on the regional level and as mentioned also, we're trying to pursue an inter-agency approach because one of the problems you foresee in case of violations are found, and there are grounds for termination. Problem such as resettlement for the people in the area," he said.

Pending the establishment of the integrated approach, Loyzaga said calculating the resettlement costs for affected SBSI members " is beyond the mandate of the DENR."

Senator Cynthia Villar, who presided over the hearing, urged Loyzaga to coordinate with the National Housing Authority regarding the resettlement of the residents who will be affected by the suspension.

Loyzaga vowed that DENR will closely work with the DSWD to push through a social census for residents and will later submit the relocation plans to the NHA.

"Our first call would be for Sec. Rex Gatchalian and the DSWD help us also establish the census and finally bring the housing and resettlement resources," she said.

Hontiveros is committed to coordinating the matter with the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development.

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa earlier lamented that DENR's suspension of its protected area accord with SBSI would result in "huge implications" for the members residing in the area.

The joint senate committees of public order and dangerous drugs as well as women, children family relations, and gender equality have begun an investigation into the alleged human rights violations, establishment private army, and supposed "cult" practices of the SBSI leadership against its members residing in the Sitio Kapihan, Barangay Sering in Socorro Town, Surigao del Norte.

The Senate is considering the conduct of its next hearing in Socorro town, where the SBSI is based.