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Closer
DENR-LGU coordination seen
Reforms
in the structure of the DENR may be needed to ensure a closer
coordination between the department and the local government
units.
This was an assurance given by Environment and Natural Resources
Sec. Lito Atienza after governors raised environment-related
and mining issues which may be better addressed with DENR
and LGUs working closely together.
In
a dialog with the governors during the 3rd General Assembly
of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, Atienza pointed
out that with vast mineral deposits and so much potential
and natural wealth, the Philippines could be well on its way
to becoming one of the richest economies, if things are done
correctly and rightly.
He, however, underscored the need to seriously look at the
existing laws on the environment and review whether these
are being implemented seriously.
LPP
national chairman and Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte
proposed for the DENR to form joint survey team with the LGUs
to conduct an inventory of the natural resources in each province.
He pointed out that the provinces are willing to share part
of the cost of survey with the DENR.
Sec. Atienza revealed that his office has plans of conducting
a national survey to study natural riches of each province,
and will consider giving priority to provinces with keen interest
to know its natural resources.
Foremost among the issues raised with Sec. Atienza were on
mining, enforcement of forestry laws and the retention of
fees collected from protected areas.
South
Cotabato Gov. Daisy A. Fuentes cited the need for DENR to
study the share of the provincial government in the taxes
and impositions from small-scale mining.
Sec.
Atienza assured that the DENR is studying the proposals on
how the provincial governments will be able to get a bigger
share from the taxes and fees collected from both small and
large-scale mining activities, and how to make taxation from
large-scale mines move forward other than waiting to these
to become fully productive.
Gov.
Erlpe John Amante likewise expressed concerns relative to
the possible loss of income by the LGUs when small-scale mining
activities graduate to large-scale.
He
cited that in Agusan del Norte, the LGUs continue to generate
income from large scale mining activities in the form of extraction
fees authorized by a local ordinance. He pointed out, however,
that mining companies may eventually file protests unless
the DENR issues a memorandum order and LGUs will be at the
losing end.
Relative
to this, Gov. Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte Mercado brought
to Sec. Atienza’s attention the mining claims in his
provinces, some issued as early as 1992, which still do not
have any operations until now.
The environment secretary, however, assured the governors
that the DENR will look into the matter and have all unproductive
mining claims cancelled.
Relative to issues on logging, Sec. Atienza assured the governors
that his office will study the different proposals on how
the DENR and the LGUs can share the authority and the responsibility
in going against illegal logging activities.
Gov. Fuentes proposed for DENR to have illegal forestry declared
a universal crime so that the department need only to certify
whether the apprehended logging activity is legal or not.
Gov.
Dodo Cagas of Davao del Sur reiterated the need for DENR to
authorize and deputize the LGUs to file and prosecute cases
involving illegal logging, citing that in Mt. Apo, which is
a total log ban area, not a single case has been filed court
against violations of the forestry laws over the years because
of this policy.
Meanwhile,
Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias II, citing the case of
the Apo Island protected area, proposed that the LGUs be allowed
to retain its share of the fees collected from the protected
areas administered by the PAWB and PAMB, instead of remitting
the entire amount to the national treasury, before it is once
more released to the LGUs.
Sec.
Atienza assured that the DENR is already working out this
matter with the DBM, the Department of Finance and the Bureau
of Customs.
In order to formalize all the pronouncements made by Sec.
Atienza, and ensure its implementation on the ground, Gov.
Villafuerte proposed that these be covered by the appropriate
department orders and administrative orders. (AJSanchez)
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