Palawan Council: ABS-CBN,18 local execs broke SEP Law

For occupying and converting Sabsaban Falls into an eco-tourism resort without a clearance from the Palawan Council Sustainable Development (PCSD), charges have been filed against the ABS-CBN Foundation (ACF) and 18 local government officials, PCSD legal chief Adel Belena said.

Belena said the ACF-Bantay Kalikasan, which occupied the falls within the timberland in Brookes’ Point, Palawan and converted them into a resort violated Administrative Order (AO) 6. The case marked as Administrative Case 438 is now pending with the PCSD Adjudication Board (PAB).

AO 6 provides the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 7611 or the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act. The order requires a SEP clearance for all projects affecting the environment and natural resources of Palawan, including government projects.

The ACF should have secured an individual SEP clearance for the occupation of Sabsaban Falls, development of the place, cutting of trees, construction of cottages and others, Belena explained.
He said ACF executive director Gina Lopez and local government officials led by Brooke’s Point Mayor Narciso Leoncio violated the SEP Law, AO 6 in particular, when it developed the resort without first securing SEP clearances.

Also charged with Lopez and Leoncio were ACF officer in charge James Adrian Bicaldo, Department of Environment and Natural Resources community officer Emelina Cojamco, Barangay Ipilan Chairman Jonathan Lagrada and Kagawad Artizo Mandawa, Edgar Sadang, Jane Araullo, Wilfredo Rodriguez, Adelaido Cacacha, Melchor Inog and Sanggunaiang Kabataan (SK) Chairman Joana Jane Enero.

Barangay Aribungos chairman Ratib Milosin and his Kagawad Nora Francisco, Elmer Sadang, Leonard Martinez, Sabtaine Abdulsattal, Renaldo Inso, Nashran Taha, Maylene Utalah and SK Chairman Inso and Sister Xenia Mae Juanitas of the Missionaries Association of the Philippines.

Enigeer Teodoro Baltazar, chief of the PCSD Enforcement Unit made into a formal complaint the report on the cutting of trees used in the project and filed it with the PAB. Robert Paalan, a member of the Brooke’s Point Federation of Tribal Councils (BPFTC) provided Baltazar with report.

The PAB is chaired by Alfredo Abueg Jr. with former Palawan vice governor David Ponce de Leon, former congressman Vicente Sandoval and PCSD executive director Romeo Dorado as members.

In Administrative Case 438, Baltazar formally asked the board to issue a cease and desist order against ACF until it has secured an SEP clearance from the PCSD, Belena said.

He explained that the project was not the main concern in the complaint but the absence of an SEP clearance for each of the activities undertaken by the ACF such as occupation of the Sabsaban Falls area, development of the resort, cutting of trees, construction of cottages and others. –Daily Tribune