DENR suspends protected area accord with Socorro village

MANILA, Philippines — Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga yesterday ordered the suspension of the Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement (PACBRMA) of the controversial Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) in Sitio Kapihan in Socorro town, Surigao del Norte amid various allegations against the group, including child marriage in the hillside community.

Loyzaga said that the suspension order was necessary pending further investigation into Socorro’s alleged gross violation of the terms and conditions of the PACBRMA.

“The DENR will work with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte and other authorities to ensure the smooth and peaceful enforcement of the suspension notice and the possible resettlement of the occupants,” the DENR said.

The DENR added that a PACBRMA is a legal instrument between the DENR and tenured migrant groups to develop and conserve a portion of a protected area for a 25-year period.

The DENR said that as early as 2019, it started its investigation on the alleged violations of SBSI including restriction of entry in the area, establishment of checkpoints and military-like training; resignation of teachers, uniformed personnel and barangay officials and establishment of structures within the area.

“In 2021 and 2022, the DENR called the attention of SBSI on the recurring violations. In both instances, there was no response from them,” the DENR said.

In an advisory, DSWD denied yesterday a circulating social media post that the agency had delisted beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who are members of SBSI.

However, 4Ps households found to have given their cash grants to the group will, instead, undergo “social case management” to be guided on how the assistance should be used.

“Secretary (Rex) Gatchalian had ordered an investigation to determine those behind this false claims,” DSWD added.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate committee on public order who presided over the SBSI public hearing on Sept. 28, said