AN environmentalist lawyer yesterday criticized the Cebu Provincial Government for planning to fill up the wet areas of the Balili Beach Resort pending the resolution of issue of its ownership.
The comment of lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos of the Global Legal Action against Climate Change (Glacc) was made after Cebu Provincial Planning and Development Officer Adolfo Quiroga said that they will no longer use coal ash to cover the wet lands of the Balili Estate in the City of Naga.
Instead, Quiroga said Capitol is negotiating to acquire filling materials from the cemetery project of the City of Naga in the mountain barangay.
Ramos said there is an issue on ownership by the state, which Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and the Provincial Board cannot disregard.
“Under the civil law, considering that DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) is instituting reversion proceedings in the portions of the property affected, it is possible that Capitol can be construed as a builder in bad faith,” Ramos said.
Improvement
“If they insist on making improvements thereon, why can they wait for the ownership issue to be settled before spending more people’s money unnecessarily? It’s more prudent to wait, definitely,” Ramos added.
Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda said that the reclamation project will still continue but they are not yet sure on the material to use.
The Province will not use the coal ash if an independent study will advise that it is not safe to use.
Sepulveda also said that lawyer Benjamin Cabrido does not have to criticize Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s dance participation in the Sinulog.
His reaction was sought yesterday after the alleged statement of Cabrido that Garcia does not have to dance because the theme of this year’s festival also includes the environment.
Dance
“If Cabrido wants to dance because apparently candidate man sad ni sila sa party-list, sayaw lang sad sila ug ilaha.
Adto siya, sayaw lang sad siya ug iyaha,” Sepulveda in a news conference at the office of the governor yesterday.
The Fiesta Señor 2010 celebration will focus on environmental advocacy, with an “environmental mass,” greening of the Basilica and the installation of solar panels among the planned activities.
Because of too many vested interests behind the issue on the environment, it can no longer be properly discussed, Sepulveda said.