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Tuesday, September 10, 2002
DENR chief to arrive, order restructuring
By Avelyn Z. Agudon
ENVIRONMENT Secretary Heherson Alvarez is expected in Negros Occidental within this week to check the development of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) investigation on the massive illegal logging activities in Barangay Bagong Silang, Don Salvador Benedicto.
Raoul Geollegue, DENR regional executive director, told Sun.Star Bacolod Alvarez will be briefed by the agency's lawyers on the cases filed against the suspected illegal loggers.
Charged were Bagong Silang Barangay Chief Vicente "Oti" Bacordo, his son Eden, and six others, for violation of the Forestry Code of the Philippines.
"He (Alvarez) is so concerned about what is happening in Negros Occidental," Geollegue said.
He added the DENR chief also required his office to submit a re-organizational plan within 15 days as part of the DENR's nationwide restructuring program to "cleanse" the agency's ranks from corrupt personnel.
The plan will include strategies on how to make their organization effective in protecting the environment, Geollegue said.
He added the expertise and capabilities of the local environment personnel will be defined to determine the assignments where they could be most effective.
"This is a way for our personnel to become effective in their jobs," he said.
The restructuring comes after a series of revamp among the environment personnel in Negros Occidental in the wake of the massive illegal logging activities.
Moreover, Geollegue said new witnesses have come out to testify against the suspected illegal loggers.
These witnesses, he said, have "stronger testimonies" than those who first came out.
He added the new witnesses' testimonies corroborate with those who testified against Bagong Silang village head Vicente "Oti" Bacordo, his son Eden, and six others, who have been charged for violation of the Forestry Code of the Philippines.
Despite the filing of charges, the Municipal Trial Court has failed to issue arrest warrants against the suspects prompting the Provincial Board (PB) to appeal for an immediate issuance. |
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