Local News

Lawmaker wants Phividec penalized

Alwen Saliring

A PROVINCIAL board member of Misamis Oriental is mulling to have the Phividec Industrial Authority (Phividec) sanctioned in light of the controversial garbage shipment from South Korea to Tagoloan town.

Board member Gerardo Sabal on Monday, December 3, said he would recommend to the capitol's legislative body to study what charges will be fit to file against Phividec after it ignored the Provincial Board hearings thrice.

"Amo man gyud gitagaan og lugway ang Phividec to explain their side pero kung moabot sa punto nga wala nay respeto kanato mo-recommend kita sa SP og action towards sa Phividec," Sabal said.

The top officials of Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp. responsible for the close to 6,500 tons of garbage shipment have appeared at the third round of SP hearing to shed light on the issue.

The shipment, "misdeclared" as plastic synthetic flakes was actually containing trash like wood, metal, and other waste materials according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

But, Sabal said no one from Phividec joined the inquiry.

"Dapat ila unta giubanan ang ilang locator sa hearing para magpaklaro sa hitabo kay mismo ang lungsod sa Tagoloan wala kahibalo sa hitabo," he said.

He said he may likely author resolutions declaring them persona non grata or have the present officials replaced.

Sabal also learned that Phividec lacks coordination with the local government unit.

"Mga possibility lang kana kay depende man kana sa atong mga kauban sa SP," Sabal said.

With this, Sabal also said he wants to have the charter of Phividec visited and possibly amend some provisions if need be.

He said this recommendation will be forwarded to Congress which has jurisdiction over Phividec.

"It needs the act of Congress to do that if ever naa tay makita nga need i-amend ato nang i-recommend," Sabal said.

"Na-create ang Phividec sa 1974, in order for an institution to work harmoniously it has to go with the changing times," he added.

(Phivolcs Photo)

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