LGUS TOLD TO FOLLOW ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
Ombudsman says local government units will be assessed on their compliance with environmental laws
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales the other day said the Philippine Environmental Ombudsman Program is aimed to require local government units (LGUs) to follow environmental laws.
Morales was the guest speaker during the dinner at Capitol Social Hall with professors participating in the 15th Annual Collo- quium of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Academy for Environmental Laws last Saturday.
Morales said the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Office of the Ombudsman have a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to ensure the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws.
The initial strategy was to come up with the nationwide environmental compliance audit to assess the performance of LGUs in the implementation of environmental laws.
“The Ombudsman sent official correspondences to local chief executives directing them to conduct self-assessment, detailed corrective measures, and
Protecting the environment has become urgent with a pro-active Congress promulgating environmental laws. CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES
voluntarily implement the law until their programs become compliant with the requirements of the environmental laws,” Morales said.
Morales said protecting the environment has become urgent with a pro-active Congress promulgating environmental laws and the proliferation of environmental non-government organizations (NGOs) calling for decisive action on environmental complaints filed with the graft office.
She said there are massive violations of environmental laws.
In the same forum, Gov. Hilario Davide III said that one of the Provincial Government’s six key development agenda is environmental protection.
He said Cebu is endowed with rich natural resources and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) is implementing the necessary programs.
“We believe that these programs will contribute to the protection of the environment as we also continuously involve and engage all our stakeholders, especially our local government units,” Davide said.
Lawyer Antonio Oposa also said that 170 top environmental law professors in the world convened in Cebu for the first time to thank the Philippines for its contribution to protect the environment.
They came from about 30 countries.
He cited as example the authorship of retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. of the High Tribunal’s decision on the right of the future generations to a healthy environment.