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Monday, May 12, 2003
Mongaya: Another flood waiting to happen
By Anol Mongaya
THE Filinvest flooding controversy has now reached the courts after Hunat, the organization of residents affected by floods as a result of FLI’s Corona del Mar project, filed a case for prohibitory and mandatory injunction at the Regional Trial Court. They want the Talisay City Government to revoke the development permit issued to FLI to carry out the project. They also sought the construction of a comprehensive drainage system for the city.
At least the possibility of a physical confrontation at the picket lines has been averted. Since Hunat set up again its picket to prevent FLI from continuing constructing work, there was the possibility that the contractor would bring back their heavy equipment and big trucks, which the picketers would surely block.
But then, this means resolution of the issue is nowhere in sight. Meanwhile, the rains have already returned. Expect heavier downpours next month. I am afraid that Pooc, Talisay City is another site for a flooding tragedy waiting to happen.
***
Cebu Customs officials are dismayed that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has decided to hold on to the apprehended vehicles beyond 72 hours.
CIDG defenders claim that turning over the goods to Customs would result in their return to the owners for a minimum amount. But then, the CIDG is also violating the law once it refuses to turn over the goods within the prescribed period.
According to the grapevine, CIDG began dipping its hands in Customs cases when Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo deputized it on July 29, 2002. However, the duration of the authority was only six months. It could no longer represent the Bureau of Customs because its authority expired last Jan. 29.
What’s in Customs a case that the CIDG learned to love within six months that it had the authority to do so? In fact, in its recent apprehensions, it does not want to turn over to the Customs bureau jurisdiction of the alleged imported goods it apprehended. “Hadlok mawani sa areglo, sir?” naughty wags asked.
If it is indeed serious in going after illegally imported vehicles, the CIDG should follow proper procedures. Then, it should field people to follow up the cases it turned over to Customs like what the defunct Task Force Aduana did years back. To avoid the mistakes of the task force, it should also hire people adept with Customs laws and procedures.
But if it will do this, what would make it different from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)? Mas maayo pag mamutos na lang nang CIIS. CIDG na lang!
According to the CIDG, it can apprehend imported vehicles without an import clearance from the Bureau of Import Services (BIS) even if these have already been registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and already running in the streets.
Perhaps, it should start going after the hundreds of vehicles bought by local government agencies from local surplus shops. How about the controversial brand new dump trucks of Cebu City hall? “No tara, sir?” another wag asked.
***
While deaths of the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) have been low worldwide compared to the number of infections, the scare has wrought worse damage on the economy. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian countries are losing billions of dollars in income and output.
But despite the Iraq war and the Sars scare, exports in Cebu City continued to grow.
Figures prepared by Customs export service division chief Jessie Llanos shows that these two calamities did not adversely affect the bullish export sector in Cebu. The 2003 first quarter report prepared by Llanos showed that the export volume and value increased when compared to the 2002 first quarter figures.
In his report, Llanos pointed out that the total volume of exports from January to April 2002 was 960 million kilos. This rose to 1.22 billion this year or an increase of 27 percent. The value of the exports increased from P323 million during the first four months of 2002 to P367.7 million from January to April this year. I think this shows the resilience of the Cebu economy.
(Send your reaction to superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol_cebu@hotmail.com or text to 09179761193)
(May 12, 2003 issue)
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