KORONADAL CITY — The South Cotabato provincial government has launched an investigation into reports that Dole Philippines Inc. (Dolefil) allegedly carried out land clearing and tree cutting in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu without securing the necessary environmental permits.

Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. said the probe seeks to determine whether Dolefil violated environmental and land use laws following complaints and visual evidence submitted by Lake Sebu Mayor Kent Fungan Jr. showing heavy equipment clearing forested areas.

Tamayo has directed the Provincial Environment and Management Office and the Provincial Agrarian and Social Services Office to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Environmental Management Bureau in assessing the site and verifying the allegations.

“We will not allow any company to bypass environmental procedures,” Tamayo said. “If violations are proven, we will recommend appropriate sanctions in coordination with national agencies.”

The governor stressed that protecting the environment remains a top priority for South Cotabato, particularly in Lake Sebu — a vital watershed and ancestral domain area inhabited by the T’boli and Ubo tribes.

Provincial officials warned that unauthorized clearing could harm the area’s ecosystem and displace indigenous communities reliant on the land for livelihood and cultural practices.

Dolefil has yet to issue an official statement on the allegations and the ongoing investigation.

“Our stand is clear — progress should never come at the expense of our people or our environment,” Tamayo said.