Province questioned over lack of environment code

Non-government organizations questioned why the province of Cebu has no environment code yet that would protect its natural resources.

In a forum on shared water and watershed governance held at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center last Wednesday, participants from different non-government organizations asked provincial board member Victor Maambong why the province has not created its own environment code yet.

Maambong, who sits as chairman of the committee on environment at the provincial board, said that there is no need for Cebu to create such as there are already a lot of existing laws on the protection of the environment. He pointed out that all it takes is the proper implementation of these laws.

"I have all the 14 environmental codes of different provinces and these are all compilations of all the environmental laws of the country. What we need is strong political will to implement these laws," the official said.

According to Maambong, the province also needs to come up with very effective land use plan to minimize the putting up of illegal structures, and preserve the protected areas in the province.

He said that illegal settlers are all over, some even living inside protected areas, and that there is a need for the government to control them.

Meanwhile, Maambong would bring up again his proposed ordinance that would require all establishments to have cisterns for storing water.

In his proposed ordinance, he said that it would be mandatory for public establishments and local government offices to have cisterns. Private companies that have cisterns would be recognized through the granting of tax rebates.

Public hearings regarding his proposal will soon be conducted, he said. - Wenna A. Berondo