Environment consultant denies DENR allegations

CEBU, Philippines - An environment consultant yesterday denied accusations by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that she violated the National Integrated Protected Areas System.

“Usa ko sa nananum og mga kahoy unya ako na man hinuon ang gikiha og arson,” said Elizabeth Corro, a consultant of Sudlon Hills Biodiversity and Conservation Park.

Corro had filed a case on May 9, 2009 before the Office of the Ombudsman against DENR regional director Leonardo Sibbaluca, DENR regional technical director Dioscoro Melana, OIC chief of Protected Areas and Division Chamberlain Babiera and Vicente Calizar of PASU for illegal issuance a certificate of lease agreement.

Corro alleged that DENR issued a lease agreement contract to a company despite the existence of a lease agreement between DENR and Lance Property Co. Inc that is due to expire on January 30, 2020.

The area in the lease contract comprised 31 hectares located in Sitio Mara-ag, Sudlon II, Cebu City. It is a watershed area which is protected by law.

Corro, who was then the consultant of Lance Property, alleged that because of the violation in the contract between the DENR and Lance’s president Nelson Garcia, the agreement was cancelled in 2007.

She said that before the contract was cancelled, the other company was allowed to lease the property, claiming that the granting of the contract to the other company was done using a “short-cut” method.

Corro said it was different in the case of Sudlon Hills Biodiversity and Conservation Park - another applicant - that followed the legal process in its application of a contract but was turned down.

But what was alarming, Corro alleged, is that the company put up a piggery and orchard farm within the watershed and protected area.

“I’m sure wala nay permit ang ilahang piggery nganha. Unya ang maong lugar naay daku kaayo nga concrete structures,” she said.

Corro also lamented the massive burning of forest trees in the area. “Ang eucalyptus tree nga 18 years na namo nga gipananum, sunugon lang sa mga tawo nganha unya himoong uling.”

Corro said that a eucalyptus tree was made into charcoal and sold for P200. To date, she said, more than 20,000 eucalyptus trees were cut.

“Walay nahimo ang DENR. Nagduda ko nga konsabo na sila sa tag-iya ug mga barangay officials. Nganong dili man ta nagduda nga sige lang ta og reklamo nga dunay nagsunog sa mga kahoy ug nagputol sa mga kahoy, pero wala ra man nila,” Corro said. — THE FREEMAN