File raps vs. culprits for neglect of RSPL

Adopting the report of the committee on environment, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan endorsed last week to file appropriate charges against the perpetrators of the neglect and mismanagement of the Rajah Sikatuna Protective Landscape (RSPL).

This is one of the recommendations pushed forward by the SP through committee chair Alfonso Damalerio II on the raging controversy over the alleged fund mismanagement and environmental neglect of RSPL.

The move, however, did not identify who are the culprits or personalities or entities involved in the RSPL mess.

The highest lawmaking body also passed a Resolution urging Congress to tinker the law on integrated protected area fund (IPAF) to be directly given to RSPL Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). If done so, the money should be subjected to usual auditing and accounting rules and regulations, said Damalerio.

Damalerio's committee conducted separate committee meeting and ocular inspection of RSPL in barangay Riverside, Bilar, Bohol, to find out the real score. It was done with the cooperation of the committees on Tourism, General Resolutions, and Ways and Means.

Damalerio got the explanations of warring Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation (SWCF).

He turned the tables on Granert saying that SWCF is in fact interested to control the RSPL fund. If indeed the DENR should be blamed, Granert, who is a member of the PAMB, he is a part of the mismanagement, Inting argued.

He explained that prior to any project implementation and fund disbursement, the "approval of the PAMB must first be secured."

PAMB is composed of local chief executives of different towns within RSPL, SWCF, DENR, Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO), CVSCAFT, provincial tourism office. It conducts quarterly meetings.

Inting made assurance that RSPL funds are being accounted for and that audit is regularly conducted by PENRO and DENR Central Office.

But SWCF said that DENR "controlled all the funds and never had any accounting for the money spent." It said that it never had in any way involvement in the release or transactions of funds.

This probably prompted SWCF to file formal complaint against DENR with the latter's central office. "Their last recourse is to file criminal and administrative charges against DENR officials."

The committee said it found a conflict of interests and there was lack of feasibility study for the project.

Among the recommendations of the committee as approved by the SP were: the DENR is required to submit an audited report to clear its name and SWCF submits documents supporting its allegations of fund misuse; an executive committee must be form as decision-making body for PAMB; project grants for environmental and tourism purposes should be approved by the executive committee. (RVO)