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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Probe vs environment officials sought for 'anomalous' disposal of public lots
OFFICIALS of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Coordilleras remain in hot water as its central office was called upon to investigate its regional office's alleged questionable award of public lots to private applicants reportedly made last year.
Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr., in a proposed resolution, also asked Environment Secretary Defensor to cancel the Townsite Sales Applications (TSAs) awarded by the regional DENR to private applicants over parcels of land located along Harrison Road (near SM Pines) and at Outlook Drive, particularly at the sequestered property of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Yangot invoked Article 420 of the Civil Code, which provides that properties of public dominion are outside the commerce of man, hence, they cannot be sold, leased or otherwise be the subject matter of contracts, as basis for Defensor to cancel the TSAs.
Believing that the issuance of the TSAs was anomalous, Yangot said the DENR-CAR's grant of TSAs contravenes existing laws and rules of the environment department.
Prior to this proposal, Councilor Jose Molintas accused ranking officials of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), Administrative Order (AO) 504 clearing committee and the Lands Management Bureau (LMB) of alleged involvement in the issuance of TSAs despite knowledge that these were previously identified for public use.
In separate proposals, Molintas and Yangot sought a moratorium in the processing of TSAs pending the clarification of the DENR on guidelines on the disposal of public lots through auction.
But Cenro head Maximo Macli-ing revealed in a council inquiry last July 1 that a moratorium on the sale of public lots could be done only by Presidential Proclamation.
Macli-ing, along with LMB Officer Teodoro Suaking and a representative from the AO 504, appeared before a special session of the Council after the body threatened to withdraw the subsidy given to city-paid employees of DENR following their repeated failure to appear before the body.
All three denied any anomaly in the processing and the granting of TSAs.
The public lots located at Dontogan, Outlook Drive and Irisan, which are scheduled for action this month until September according to the AO 504, were previously identified for public use.
While a denial was already given, Councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia asked that aside from an investigation, a database of all TSAs granted should be furnished the Council for reference and for verification. (RO)
(July 13, 2005 issue)
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