Sitio La Presa, naging commercial na; Forevermore concert, tinutulan

HINAYANG na hinayang ang mga supporter ng seryeng Forevermore na pinangungunahan nina Enrique Gil, Liza Soberano, at Diego Loyzaga dahil hindi na matutuloy ang plano ng ABS-CBN na thanksgiving concert na gaganapin mismo sa Sitio La Presa, Benguet dahil tinutulan ito ng concerned environmentalists.

Noong Biyernes ay sumulat ang environmentalists kina ABS-CBN President at CEO Charo Santos-Concio at ABS-CBN Foundation Chairman Gina Lopez na kung puwede ay huwag sa nasabing lugar idaos ang concert.

Base sa liham na ipinadala:

Dear Ma’am’s,

Warm greetings of peace.

We are concerned about the concert that is being planned on May 10, 2015 at Sitio Pungayan, Mount Cabuyao, Tuba, Benguet, also known as La Presa, shooting location of the ABS-CBN telenovela hit, Forevermore.

Perhaps you are not aware that the area in question is within a critical watershed, one of the last forested areas in Southern Benguet, which is an important source of potable water for residents and visitors of Baguio City, including downstream communities until Tubao and Rosario in La Union.

Concerned citizens of Baguio led by Bishop Carlito Cenzon filed for a Writ of Kalikasan last September 12, 2014, to protect this watershed, and on September 30, 2014, the Supreme Court granted a Temporary Environment Protection Order (TEPO) which is now in effect overthe Mt. Santo Tomas Forest Reserve.

Meanwhile, Forevermore has proven to be big hit, and continues to attract tourists by the hundreds to the area every weekend since late last year. The normal weekend crowd already impacts heavily on this fragile ecosystem, with the garbage left on the mountain and aggravated pollution of Amliang Creek; the trampling of young trees, natural biodiversity, and the crops of the local farmers; the traffic congestion; and the sudden influx of business interests. We can only imagine with dread the crowds that will go there on May 10, since this is being advertised on television nationwide.

We know of your advocacy for the environment and for eco-tourism. May we therefore appeal to your good hearts to consider changing the venue of this thanksgiving concert to somewhere more appropriate outside of the Mt. Santo Tomas Forest Reserve, and which is able to absorb huge crowds without permanent damage to the ecosystem.

Thank you for your attention.

Pagkatanggap nina Ma’am Charo at Ms. Gina ang nasabing liham, ilang oras lang ay nagdesisyon na silang ikansela ang nasabing concert.

Base naman sa official statement ng management, “ABS-CBN regrets to announce the cancellation of Forevermore thanksgiving concert scheduled on May 10 in Sitio Pungayan, Benguet following some environmental concerns raised regarding the event’s venue.”

Nakakuha rin kami ng balita na naging commercial na raw ang Sitio La Presa dahil tinayuan na ito ng tiangge dahil nga dinarayo ito ng mga tao para magpa-picture.

Nalaman din namin na may ilang opisyal daw ng Baguio City ang nagbigay ng permit para makapagtayo ng tiangge sa nasabing lugar.

As of now ay hindi pa alam kung matutuloy pa ang concert sa ibang lugar dahil magmi-meeting pa raw ang Star Creatives.

ni Reggee Bonoan