Bebot to push for measures to preserve Cebu’s resources

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City South District Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa vowed to push for legislations that will preserve Cebu’s natural resources after he was being elected as chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources.

He said the committee is one of the biggest standing committees in the plenary with over 50 congressmen as members, including the speaker, deputy speakers, majority leaders, representatives of the majority and the minority groups.

“Being the chairman of the committee, we can now push for legislations that will help protect Cebu’s natural resources. Many of our constituents subsist mainly on output from our marine and land resources and we are now in a better position to encourage legislation that will not only preserve such resources but will also hopefully improve the yield, hence improving many of our fellow Cebuanos’ livelihood,” he said.

Abellanosa said one of the implications on his appointment is that Cebu’s representatives gained another level of respect from the other representatives in the country.

“The bills being consolidated by the technical working group of the Committee on Natural Resources on the sustainable management of forest ecosystems will be very beneficial to the preservation of Cebu's, as well as the country's forest resources,” he added.

Abellanosa said he did not expect to be elected as chairman of the committee. But he said he is looking forward to playing a bigger role in Congress.

“After all, in my years as a member of the House, I believe I have demonstrated my competence as a lawmaker, my abilities as a leader, and my dedication to serving our fellowmen,” he said.

One of the priorities of the committee now is to ensure that the change in leadership in Congress does not derail the deliberations of the pending bills and resolutions, he said.

He said the committee has formed a technical working group that will consolidate the bills on sustainable forest management so that it may be taken by the whole body on second reading at the soonest possible time.

“The House Committee on Natural Resources evaluates and improves on legislation directly and principally relating to natural resources, except energy and fisheries resources, and their exploration, conservation, management and utilization, lands of the public domain, mines and minerals, forests, parks and wildlife, and marine resources before they are presented to the plenary for consideration of the whole lower House on second reading,” he said.

Abellanosa said he, being the chairman of the committee, will preside over meetings, deliberations, public hearings, or inquiries in aid of legislation.

He added that the committee can also make recommendations to concerned agencies based on the result of the inquiry or public hearings.

Abellanosa vowed to continue serving his constituents in the south district of the city even if he has now a bigger role in the Congress. — MBG (FREEMAN)