ILOILO City – Legal loopholes in national laws on waterways projects are putting Ilonggos at risk, Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia warned, as he urged for stronger safeguards to protect communities from displacement and abuse.
“I am very disheartened nga ang aton mga national laws, greatly insufficient sa paghatag proteksyon sa aton nga mga pumuluyo,” Sarabia said during the third Quad Committee hearing on Iloilo City flood control projects in aid of legislation on Thursday, September 18. He stressed that the laws’ weaknesses make it difficult to hold agencies and project implementers accountable.
According to Sarabia, one problem is that the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) requirement can be bypassed by reclassifying a project under a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC). This effectively removes the need for a resolution of no objection from the city council.
“Kun amo ni kahalog ang layi, madamo sang pwede matabo kag maabuso,” he said, warning that such leniency opens the door for exploitation by contractors and even government agencies.
Sarabia said the city council will push back against irregular projects.
“Indi naton pagpasugtan ang mga proyekto nga wala nagasunod sa husto nga proseso. Kinahanglan may koordinasyon anay sa mga ahensya antes pa man mag-umpisa sang obra,” he emphasized./PN
