Argao town issued order stopping its ‘dike rehab’

CEBU, Philippines - After tangling with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 over a project that resulted to the cutting of several trees, Argao, Cebu mayor Edsel Galeos this time is at odds with the agency another project.

Community Environment and Natural  Resources Office-Argao Chief Flordeliza  Geyrozaga  issued a cease and desist order for the “ongoing development within a classified timberland area” in Sitio Candabong, Barangay Binlod, Argao, Cebu.

“To forestall further damage to the environment, you are hereby directed to CEASE-AND-DESIST from further undertaking any development within the area immediately upon receipt of this order. Failure to heed this order, would constrain this office to take further appropriate action and resort to all legal measures to protect the environment from destruction,” read the order dated July 11.

The order came after an ocular inspection by CENRO-Argao, DENR-7, and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)-Cebu revealed “an ongoing development was undertaken therein, particularly the construction of a seawall and the opening of a road network, despite the receipt of the letter denying (the) application for a tenure over the said area.”

DENR-7 Spokesperson Eddie Llamedo said they are eyeing the filing of a court petition for the issuance of a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) “if they will not stop on its ongoing development.”

Galeos, said he did not know about the order until somebody from the media and one of his staff called him yesterday.

He described the latest controversy involving the town and the DENR, which issued a notice to stop against another development project that the town initiated in Barangay Jampang weeks back as laughable.

“Pagka-pinangga baya nako aning DENR. Didto kuno sila ganina.... Kataw-anan man kaayo ni uy,” Galeos said.

The mayor clarified that the project is not a reclamation but a “four-meter dike rehabilitation” project together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for a Bangus hatchery.

“Dili intawn na reclamation. Lahi ra ang dike sa reclamation. Kahibaw ko ana kay engineer baya pud ta gawas nga mayor. Ang kini nga project together with BFAR. The dike was damaged by typhoon Pablo. BFAR gave us P1million. Supposedly, the LGU has a counterpart of P600,000 but since we do not have that amount of money, ang atong gibuhat kay ang wastes sa atong gipatag nga gi-construct nga school, mao atong gigabit para sa dike,” Galeos explained.

He said he could not understand why Argao is being singled out when other LGUs commit a similar offense. —/RHM (FREEMAN)