There
will be no compromise whatsoever on environmental destructions, declared DENR
Sec. Angelo T. Reyes yesterday as he vowed to strictly implement the laws to protect
Mother Earth.
This
was the stern warning issued by Sec. Reyes after complaints on alleged environmental
destructions happening in the province, particularly at the ongoing construction
of a resort in barangay Tawala, Panglao town.
He
said that while he is given the responsibility to protect the environment, he
will never allow any violations since there are appropriate laws mandated in order
to fully protect the environment.
Reyes
received yesterday a formal complaint signed by 90 residents of barangay Tawala
who complained on environmental destructions at the Eskaya Resort development
project.
| | | "If
the people of Bohol have started to distrust the local DENR, then I will see to
it that my men in the province will render to me a credible investigation on the
matter," Sec. Reyes assured in the presence of Gov. Erico Aumentado after
yesterday's inauguration of the Palm Oil Mill in Carmen town.
The
DENR chief said that upon arrival in Manila, he will personally look into the
complaints and immediately order an independent investigation which he vowed to
be free from any pressures. |
PALACE
LINKS HINTED?
Sources
close to the resort owners had broadly hinted to the public that the resort has
alleged links to the First Gentleman - and that he is reportedly set to honor
the blessing of the place. A person allegedly connected to the Office of the First
Gentleman came yesterday on board PAL flight from Manila allegedly as an advanced
party of Mike Arroyo.
In
many occasions, the name of the First Gentleman has been dragged into business
transactions - legitimate or otherwise-supposedly to facilitate private deals.
At one point before Mike Arroyo went into voluntary exile, in exasperation, he
gave his office address to the public - then (LTA Building in Perea, Makati) to
report anyone who uses his name for any deal - and vowed to file charges against
those who are using his name maliciously - for gain.
Gov.
Aumentado, who is an ally of Pres. Arroyo commented that Pres. GMA herself had
frowned on people using the First Family for private deals and had often mentioned
in public that she will not tolerate anyone trying to use the influence of Her
Office through family members to favor individuals.
Panglao
beach has been one of GMA's favorites and she often takes time to be in the beach
to savor Nature's blessed wonders. She expects tourism to be the flagship industry
of the province and would, in all likelihood, not countenance any rape of the
environment in the name of private enterprise.
The
President had actively supported, in fact, the construction of the Panglao airport
with international standards - in her firm belief that Bohol as a tourist destination
has come of age.
Any
wanton destruction of the environment could be tantamount to sabotaging objectives
of the President - bringing in hundreds of thousands of tourists via the airport
only to come to a Panglao island that has been environmentally degraded.
GOVERNOR'S
STATEMENT
Gov.
Aumentado, for his part, told the secretary that while the resort owners informed
him about their development, he cautioned that the development should "never
destroy nature" as this well preserved nature has become one of the assets
of Bohol becoming as one of the prime tourist destinations in the country today.
The
governor informed the DENR secretary of his inspection at the Eskaya Resort last
Jan. 19 where the governor's car could not enter the area because of the existing
road block which was earlier ordered by the governor to be dismantled.
Gov.
Aumentado earlier ordered the resort management to demolish the road block within
48 hours. The demolition order issued by Gov. Aumentado on Nov. 22, 2006 was ignored
until this time.
STERN
WARNING
Reyes
said that he recently assigned PENRO Eduardo Inting, a Boholano, as the DENR chief
in the province in order to strictly implement environmental laws in this tourism-oriented
province.
Reyes
cited that he recently sacked high-ranking DENR officials in the Western and Eastern
Visayas area for failure to explain their action with respect to the protection
of the environment. In one instance, the failure to react promptly to a project
that would sanitize the drinking water of towns near the Guimaras oil spill caused
the head of a DENR official to roll.
Reyes
was emphatic in his speech to all DENR officers last January 8 in Manila that
"Man is the only species that destroys its habitat. Ants do not destroy their
ant hills. Bees do not destroy their beehives. Man destroys Planet Earth. Unfortunately,
we cannot transfer to another planet."
The
DENR secretary who in fact gave up the opportunity to run for the Senate said
that he is committed to advance his concentrated advocacy on the protection of
the environment. He cites that this generation may have the last chance to reverse
the environmental destruction inflicted by man on planet Earth.
TAWALA
COMPLAINTS
The
residents of Tawala in their complaint stated: rocks at the beachfront were removed
using heavy equipment and hand tools.
The
complaint said further that "the beach was literally plowed with the use
of a farm tractor and the natural sand formation was altered."
The
"seaweeds which occupied a wide swath on the seafloor fronting the beach
were uprooted using an improvised rake, apparently to give the waters in the beach
the appearance of clear water," the complaint continued.
The
third concern of the Tawala residents is the "masonry riprap which runs parallel
with the shoreline and within the 20-meter strip of the foreshore set aside from
easement and environmental protection was constructed."
The
resort development is likewise being questioned by residents for putting up "12
feet galvanized iron sheets that also runs parallel with the shoreline which is
also within the 20-meter strip of the foreshore." | 
