Palawan group hit for stopping eco-tourism site project

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN Foundation head Gina Lopez has criticized the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) for stopping a project converting Sabsaban Falls in Brooke’s Point town into an ecotourism site.

Lopez questioned the cease and desist order (CDO) issued by the council last month, pending investigation on a complaint emanating from the cutting of 45 giant trees in the project site without proper authority.

“I question the motives of PCSD in their intentions. There is mining on top of the rice fields of Palawan and abandoned mine sites all over the island. Now, they want to stop these operations which are benefiting the people,” she was quoted as saying.

She said the CDO should only be issued “if there is danger to the environment or people’s lives.”

In issuing the order, Lopez alleged that PCSD officials were just getting back at her because of charges filed against them with the Office of the Ombudsman for the degradation of Palawan and they had already lost their credibility.

She did not name any official of PCSD in her statement.

The PCSD is chaired by Palawan Gov. Abraham Mitra. Its adjudication board is chaired by Alfredo Abueg Jr. with former vice governor David Ponce de Leon as vice chair and former congressman Vicente Sandoval, Provincial Prosecutor Allen Ross Rodriguez, lawyer Nesario Awat, PNP Provincial Director Reynaldo Jagnis and Director Romeo Dorado as members.

PCSD lawyers, when sought for reaction, said they would ask lawyers of Lopez to explain her statement.

They said the allegations were “grossly unfair.”

A complaint against the foundation in connection with the project is pending with the PCSD board.

Earlier this month, a multi-sectoral panel created by PCSD bared a report which found that provisions of Republic Act 7611 (Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act) were violated by the project jointly undertaken by ABS-CBN Foundation and the local government.

The PCSD, which resolves environmental complaints in the island-province, said sanctions have also been recommended against an officer of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the province.

PCSD legal officer Herminia Caabay said their investigating team has found that DENR-Palawan community officer Emelina Cojamco should be penalized under RA 7611 for issuing a permit for the cutting of giant trees in the project site without authority.

Caabay said Cojamco did not have the power to issue the permit, which belongs only to the DENR secretary or the regional executive director.

The law also requires issuance of SEP prior to release of operational permits, she said.

Panel head Leonardo Caluya said Cojamco acted beyond her authority so they recommended that a separate administrative sanction be imposed by the DENR on her.

The report also found that ABS-CBN Foundation did not yet have authority when it developed Sabsaban Falls into a resort even if the project was proposed by the local government.

Contrary to the claim of Lopez, the panel revealed that the foundation was still working out an agreement with the local government when it started the project.

This was based on admission of James Adrian Bicaldo, ABS-CBN Bantay Kalikasan project officer, the panel said.