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Officials say the foreigner painted rocks and stones along the Asia River, the main water source for waterfalls at a wildlife sanctuary
BACOLOD, Philippines – A Russian resort owner is in hot water for defacing a 40-meter stretch of riverbed to make the area colorful in the town of Murcia in Negros Occidental.
Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said authorities were preparing complaints against Ivan Orlov for violation of the Clean Water Act of 2004, vandalism, and malicious mischief.
Orlov, who owns Russian Resort, reportedly painted a 40-meter stretch of the riverbed, including many boulders, rocks, and stones, along the Asia River in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia. Asia River serves as the main water source for the sixth and seventh waterfalls at the provincial government-run Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary.
An inspection conducted by Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas, Gerangaya, and Eric Espinosa, Minoyan barangay chairman, on Thursday, September 26, validated viral social media posts about what was done along the riverbed.
Gerangaya said the act was an outright desecration, noting the environmental damage caused by the paint, which contained environmentally unfriendly substances.
Officials said it was an unacceptable violation, as paint in natural water causes harm regardless of whether latex was used or not.
Attempts to contact Orlov have been unsuccessful, as his staff claimed he was abroad for business.
Officials said legal repercussions could be steep. Violating the Clean Water Act carries penalties of up to P3 million.
Orlov also faces a complaint for violation of the Anti-Vandalism Act of 2009 and malicious mischief, which could result in imprisonment for up to a year and fines ranging from P10,000 to P40,000.
Rojas and Gerangaya said they have ordered the immediate removal of the paint, instructing the resort staff to use manual methods to avoid further contamination.
“It’s our standing order for them to revert the Asia River to its original beauty,” Gerangaya said.
The colorful transformation of the river has not only caught the attention of local authorities but has also sparked outrage online.
Rhoderick Samonte, a local environmental advocate, denounced the act in a viral Facebook post: “I speak loudly against the coloring of rocks and stones along our cherished mountain rivers. This act, mischaracterized as an artistic expression, is nothing short of a desecration of nature’s inherent beauty.”
Local officials said their message is clear: natural landscapes, especially those under public stewardship, are not canvases for artistic whims.
They said what looks beautiful online can cause real-world harm when it involves tampering with nature. – Rappler.com
