KORONADAL CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has intensified its enforcement campaign against environmental violations in the Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (MMPL), with courts now handing down stiff penalties to offenders who encroach on strictly protected zones.
From 2023 to the present, the Protected Area Management Office of MMPL (PAMO-MMPL), working closely with the Enforcement and Legal Divisions of DENR Region XII, has filed legal cases against 24 individuals for illegally constructing structures within the Strict Protection Zone (SPZ) of Mt. Matutum, particularly in Sitio Glandang, Barangay Kablon, Tupi, South Cotabato.
Authorities said five respondents have already opted for voluntary compliance by carrying out self-demolition of their illegal structures, prompting the dismissal of their respective cases. The move, DENR officials noted, reflects growing awareness of the seriousness of violations inside protected areas.
In a landmark ruling, the Regional Trial Court of the 11th Judicial Region, Branch 63 in Polomolok, South Cotabato, on November 20, 2025, found one violator guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 20(o) in relation to Section 21(c) of Republic Act No. 7586, or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, also known as the Expanded NIPAS (ENIPAS) Act. The court imposed a hefty ₱2-million fine and ordered the demolition of the illegally built structures within three months.
DENR officials described the decision as a clear warning to would-be violators that environmental laws will be enforced without exception. The ruling, they said, reinforces the resolve of the Department, PAMO-MMPL, and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) to protect Mt. Matutum from further encroachment and degradation.
PAMO-MMPL has also continued rehabilitation and restoration efforts in affected SPZ sites where unauthorized structures have already been removed. The office urged the public and nearby communities to respect zoning regulations and to promptly report any illegal activities within the protected landscape, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in preserving Mt. Matutum for future generations.