|
Thursday, November 22, 2007
North Cotabato protests drilling at Mt. Apo
By Malu Cadelina Manar
Of Sun.Star General Santos
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The Provincial Board of North Cotabato will seek legal action to stop the drilling operations of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) at Mount Apo, the country's highest peak.
North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol said the drilling, which started almost a month ago, violated Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.
Post your comments here on the Batasan blast
He said PNOC started the drilling operations without consulting the concerned local government units (LGUs).
Due to this alleged blatant disregard of the powers and functions of local governments, Pinol said they plan to file suit against the PNOC-Energy Development Corporation.
"We want to seek redress. The PNOC must pay for not consulting the LGUs in their latest drilling operations," said Piñol.
In a resolution passed last Tuesday, the Provincial Board urged Governor Jesus Sacdalan to ask the local court to order PNOC to cease and desist from its drilling operations.
"This is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed. We can't allow the drilling to continue, especially if it destroys the biodiversity, the mountain's rainforest, in particular," Piñol said.
Also, the Provincial Board questioned the executive order issued in September 2007 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that declared Mount Apo as an "economic zone."
"I wonder why the National Government is deciding for us here at the local level. Do they realize that once the Mt. Apo is declared an economic zone, the mountain's rainforest might be destroyed?" asked Piñol.
Such declaration, he stressed, "was carelessly done" by Malacañang, which he tagged as "Imperial Manila."
Piñol further said the legislators do not oppose any development as long it does not violate laws and is grassroots-based or the initiative had come from the LGUs.
Executive Order 661, which declared Mt. Apo an economic zone, was signed by President Arroyo in Davao City.
Piñol said they have given PNOC-Energy Development Corporation president Paul Aquino the chance to air his side on the drilling operations.
However, Aquino failed to appear before the Provincial Board on Tuesday because he was set to attend a hearing on PNOC's membership in Metro Manila.
"Though the PNOC-Energy Development Corporation president has assured us of his willingness to appear before us and explain the whole process, the problem is, after the hearings in Manila, he might be replaced by somebody," said Piñol. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (November 22, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Liloan pa holds infant hostage