BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has resolved its dispute with a group of 200 lumads after a five-hour dialogue last Tuesday that finally ended the protest rally at the DENR compound in Barangay Ambago, this city, officials said Thursday.

The lumads belonging to the different tribes of Mamanwa, Manobo and Higaonon under the “Diwata-Tricom-Yellow Force” held the rally to air their grievances on forestry and mining issues.

The dialogue between the protesting tribal group headed by the tribal consultant Victoriano Vidal and the DENR officials headed by Regional Executive Director for Caraga Region Edilberto S. Buiser ended peacefully after solutions were proposed and agreed upon.

Buiser thanked the different tribal leaders for holding their peace throughout the proceedings.

According to Vidal, the lumads complained about the alleged “collusion” between illegal logging operators and DENR field personnel, irregularities in the bidding procedures of the DENR-NRDC, the alleged selling of the CENRO of Certificate of Timber Origin (CTO) documents, and the granting of tenurial instrument to an investor without Free and Prior Consent as provided for under the Indigenous People Rights Act otherwise known as RA 8371.

“The truth has finally prevailed over the dialogue while doubts and differences were amicably settled. It was a fruitful meeting indeed,” Buiser said.

He however corrected the misimpression that the DENR has done nothing to stop illegal logging and mining activities in the region. “There was no instance that the DENR was remiss in its duty or jeopardized its operation that resulted in irregularities. I have never tolerated shadow deals under my office,” Buiser said.