As part of their school requirements, four students of the University of Cebu School of Law met with Gov. Gwen Garcia and at least four Cebu mayors in order to discuss the nuances in procedure and implementation of reclamation projects in the province.
UC Law School dean Atty. Ria Lidia Espina told Gov. Garcia that the law students’ “letters interrogatories” sent to the mayors of Toledo City and the Municipalities of Oslob, Dumanjug, Balamban, Compostela, and Carmen are part of their practice program under UC Law Green Legal Clinic.
The law students were Mary Eurica Careon, Pepito Anito, Francisco Moralde III, and Maress Pepino. They were also joined by their supervising professor, Atty. Kristine Joy Argallon.
They wished to be informed, as part of their immersive studies, how the LGUs are expected to proceed given that they secured the approval of the Cebu Provincial Reclamation Authority (CPRA), chaired by Gov. Garcia, last May 3 for their respective proposed reclamation projects.
The LGUs were represented in the dialogue by Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Perales, Balamban Mayor Ace Stefan Binghay, Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren, Carmen Mayor Carlo Villamor, and Compostela Vice Mayor Froilan Quiño. Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica sent a staff.
In gist, the law students wished to be clarified of the processes after the LGUs secured the CPRA approval for their reclamation projects, considering that some of them are facing the environmentally protected Tañon Straight (such as Toledo City, Dumanjug, and Balamban); as well as home to delicate marine ecosystems such as Oslob’s whale sharks.
In the presence of officials from the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources and the Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas; as well as Department of the Interior and Local Government regional director Leocadio Trovela and assistant director Atty. Ian Kenneth Lucero — Gov. Garcia touted the CPRA as Cebu’s concrete exercise of local autonomy.
Under Section 17(b)(3)(vii) of RA 7160 or the “Local Government Code of 1991”, a Province is empowered to undertake the construction of infrastructure facilities intended to serve the needs of the people, such as, among many others, reclamation projects.
Because of this, the Cebu Provincial Government enacted in 1996 Ordinance No. 96-14 or the “Cebu Reclamation Ordinance,” which created the CPRA to, among other things, approve, undertake, and prosecute reclamation projects in Cebu; as well as prescribe policies, rules, and regulations on reclamations already undertaken and yet to be undertaken by government agencies and private entities in the province.
The said ordinance has been amended during Gov. Gwen’s terms in 2009 and 2023, where it was decreed that the Province shall be entitled to 10% of usable reclaimed land in all reclamation projects in Cebu.
However, the CPRA approval, coupled with the approval of the Provincial Board, is just the first step in reclamation projects in Cebu, Gov. Gwen said.
Proponents still have to comply with the requirements prescribed by pertinent laws of the country, such as securing clearances and certificates from national government agencies like the DENR, among others, to ensure that these projects adhere to ecological standards of reclamation.
The students thanked Gov. Gwen and the mayors, as well as DENR and DILG officials, for taking the time out of their hectic schedules in order to give them a clearer picture of this important and landmark policy of the province that has implications not only on economic gains but on the environment as well.
The governor assured them that while progress and development are a priority of the Capitol, efforts to achieve such objectives shall not compromise environmental stewardship and protection.
The governor also expressed optimism at the enthusiasm of the young law students to take up such an important topic that should be the concern of all Cebuanos.
Hoping to work with UC School of Law, Gov. Garcia personally invited Dean Espina to offer their expertise to the Cebuanos through the Caravan of Government Services and join other schools such as University of the Philippines Cebu and the University of San Carlos as Capitol partners. | IPA