BAGUIO CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), together with the police, is keeping a close watch on the Mount Santo Tomas Forest Reserve, vowing strict enforcement of the Permanent Environmental Protection Order (PEPO).

Officials are stationed at the reserve to manage entry and oversee activities, focusing on preventing the further spread of vegetable gardens and residential structures. An inventory of existing gardens has been completed, and while established areas are documented, any new developments are being met with formal Notices of Violation and Cease and Desist Orders.

One of the more high-profile cases involves a former congressman who allegedly developed property within the reserve. DENR officials clarified that regardless of how the project was described, such activities are strictly prohibited under the PEPO. The Office of the Solicitor General has filed contempt charges against the former lawmaker, with the case now pending before the Court of Appeals.

Meanwhile, authorities also provided updates on a proposed five-star hotel by Landco Corporation in the lower portion of the reserve, near Badiwan, Tuba, and Balacbac in Sto. Tomas Proper, Baguio City. The project is still in the early consultation stage, has yet to apply for an Environmental Compliance Certificate and still requires a Certification Precondition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

To maintain transparency, the DENR continues to submit quarterly reports to the Court of Appeals, detailing their monitoring efforts and the progress of ongoing criminal cases against environmental violators.

For the DENR, keeping Mt. Sto. Tomas protected isn’t just about rules — it’s about safeguarding a vital natural reserve for future generations.