Davide: Achieve progress- environ balance

CEBU, Philippines - If  he were to make a choice between the environment and progress, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said there should be balance, as there are times that the former is compromised in the implementation of government projects.

“There has got to be a balance. There is a need to protect the environment.   Magkadaghan ang mga tawo, ang needs sab sa populace. There is also need to fill in the gap to deliver the basic services,” Davide said.

Davide cited as a good example, a water reservoir project, which must need a big track of land for it to be implemented, and this land area could be agricultural. He said that agricultural land must be sacrificed for the reservoir, which becomes the source of the public’s water.

“Ini’g-deliver sa basic services naay aspect ma-disturb maybe ang environment. Like magkuha og tubig para sa community, mag-dig man ka ana og well or reservoir. Ang agricultural maapektohan. Kinahanglan balansehon na,” he said.

Davide’s made the statement when asked for his views on the controversy faced by Argao Mayor Edcel Galleos, who allegedly cut 400 trees in an upland area to make way for a road project.

The governor said, though, that he is not siding with Galeos and that he will just wait for the outcome of the investigation by Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7.

Davide said he was also willing to sit down with Galeos and with DENR-7 officials to talk about the mayor’s alleged violation of environmental laws.  (FREEMAN)