LAWMAKERS in the valley are racing against time to complete the town’s environmental code.
La Trinidad councilors on Tuesday, August 6, passed on first reading the proposed ordinance entitled the “La Trinidad Environmental Code”.
Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan said everything that is happening in the municipality concerns the environment.
“This code will embody all rules and regulations, programs, projects and activities related to environment. It involves Puguis Communal Forest, Balili River, solid waste, wild life protection, pollution among others”
Awingan added the town badly needs the environment code to collate existing ordinance related to environment.
He said the codification of existing ordinance pertaining to environment will be put in one book as basis and important in the implementation of programs, projects and activities and policies in the Benguet town.
The Environment Resources Council is tasked to finish the environment code of the town.
Awingan said the crafting of the law has been shelved for eight years as the council attempts to complete the code which will entail public consultation.
To date, Awingan said there are existing laws concerning solid waste, planting of trees, anti-smoking while the new environment code eyes measure on regulation of water distribution, cutting of trees, and biodiversity.
He added other tasks by the Environment Resources Council involves crafting of the Forest Land Use Plan in order to facilitate the transfer of management from the Department of Environment and Natural Resource to the Local Government Unit.
Awingan said the concern of the town and devolve to the LGU include the forest management, protected areas and wildlife, environmental management.