SP probes resumption of ‘river reclamation’
COMPANY RUSHES FILLING
THE questionable reclamation of a portion of the Calmay River is at the top of the new Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) agenda as it sets out to conduct an inquiry on the matter.
Officials of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and some provincial officials have been invited by the SP to attend the July 12 session for an inquiry that is intended to be in aid of legislation.
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair of the SP, said the invited officials will be asked to enlighten the council on the issue.
Fernandez said she believes that the reclamation work is detrimental to the city as it will further constrict the flow of water at the Calmay River and increase the risk of flooding.
Reclamation activities at a portion of the Calmay River on the right side of the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway Extension resumed just before the new administration under Mayor Benjamin Lim took over, despite a standing cease and desist order (CDO) issued by the EMB two years ago by the at the request of then Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.
EMB Technical Director Joel Salvador and a legal officer of the DENR, accompanied by then City Legal Officer George Mejia, served the CDO to 888 Properties Corporation in February 2008.
Salvador earlier described the operation in the area as “river reclamation” rather than a simple land fillling operation.
The law requires that a proponent of a reclamation project must first secure a permit from the Philippine Reclamation Authority, which the company failed to produce.
As of April 5, Salvador told newsmen in Lingayen that he has not lifted the CDO issued against the reclamation project.
Before the May 10 election, the company behind the project attempted to resume the filling activity but was again stopped when Mejia conducted an ocular inspection of the place.
Mejia, now a consultant for the SP, said he will assist the council on the matter.
2010 SP OFFICERS
Under the new SP, Councilor Maybelyn Fernandez has been elected as Majority Floor Leader, Councilor Karlos Reyna as assistant, Marc Brian Lim as Minority Lloor Leader and Redford Erfe Mejia as assistant Minority Floor Leader. Councilor Jesus Canto is presiding protempore.—LM
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
The Dagupan SP is also done distributing the committee assignments for the councilors.
Dela Cruz-Fernandez presides over the committees on Social Welfare and Community Development and on Public Information.
Reyna chairs the committees on Environment and Natural Resources, Public Works and Infrastructures and Public Utilities.
Canto will lead the committee on health and sanitation, as well as the committee on market and slaughterhouse.
Another two-termer councilor, Ma. Librada Fe Reyna chairs the Women and Children Family Affairs and the committee on Local and International Relations. Reyna was also named deputy presiding officer.
Councilor Alipio Serafin Fernandez is chairman of the committee on Laws, Ordinances and Judiciary, and on Tourism and Cultural Development.
Three-termer Councilor Luis Samson Jr., is chairman on education as well as on peace and order.
Neophyte Councilor Jeslito Seen will head the committees on Finance, Trade and Industry and NGO Affairs while Alvin Coquia another councilor, also first-termer, heads the committee on Land Utilization.
Lim leads the Urban Poor committee while Mejia chairs the committee on cooperatives.
Ex-Officio Councilor Marcelino Fernandez, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay chapter, is chair of the Agriculture and Fisheries committee as well as Barangay Affairs as mandated by the Local Government Code’ while Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Karlo Fernandez, also ex-officio councilor, is chair of the youth and sports development.—LM
Councilor Lim: “Our loyalty is to our city.”
Dagupan City Councils Minority Floor leader Councilor Brian Lim has dispelled speculations that the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), with the majority ruled by the Liberal Party, and his father, Mayor Benjie Lim who is under the Nacionalista Party, cannot harmoniously work together.
“We are at the SP, no longer as Liberal or Nacionalista Party candidates, but as elected officials whose loyalty should be — above everything, and everyone else, including ourselves — to the people of Dagupan,” said Councilor Lim.
Speaking during the privilege hour in last week’s council session, Lim said, “Today, we are gathered here, not as business rivals, but as business-minded leaders who should work together to make sure that in our city, income is generated, expenses are managed, transparency is displayed, dreams are pursued and progress is attained.”
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, the SP presiding officer, is a known political as well as business rival of Mayor Lim.
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