The City Government is currently updating its Environmental Code to strengthen the mechanism and enforcement of environmental laws and make it responsive in addressing the pressing environmental concerns confronting Puerto Princesa.
The Environmental Code or City Ordinance 396 officially titled, “Code of Conduct for the Conservation, Protection and Restoration of the Sources of Life of the City of Puerto Princesa” was enacted in 2008, with Atty. Antonio Oposa, a known environmental lawyer as its consultant.
Simultaneous to the updating of the Environmental Code is the formulation of the city’s Environmental Plan.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office initiated the conduct of a series of consultations among the different stakeholders such as civil society organizations, national and local offices, barangay, academe, business sector and other sectors to identify environmental issues and concerns as an input for the updating of the code.
Among the common issues and concerns that surfaced during these consultations are the occupation of informal settlers in mangrove areas, threats in the forestland and watershed, violators of zoning regulation and other threats to biodiversity.
Atty. Carlo Gomez, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said that a well-crafted Environmental Plan and Environmental Code will give a clearer direction in managing the city’s natural resources.
“Before we act on the amendments of our Environmental Code as well as the much-needed and required Environmental Plan, there must be a single vision in crafting the amendment of our E-Code. We have sufficient policies but we should come out with an amendments (of our Envi Code). No other entity that we can depend on that’s why we need an Envi Code that can stand on its own. It is about directions. It is about independence. It is about management of our resources,” Atty.Gomez said.
Senior Environmental Management Specialist Mary Ann Joylle M. Madriñan said that the updating of the code is very timely. “Sampong taon na ating Environment Code at napapanahon na, na ito ay e-update,” she said.
Madriñan further said that in the updated Environmental Code, the new environmental laws passed and enacted by the Congress from 2008 onwards should be incorporated and reflected.
She said that in the updated Environmental Code, the fines and penalties should be specific as well as the concerned office or personnel who will execute such task. The expectation is the harmonization of existing gray areas so that specific offices or persons are identified to enforce laws against violators.
She further said that there should be a deeper and more intensive discussion on various issues are necessary for the attainment of quality Environmental Plan and also the quality of the updated Environmental Code.
Puerto Princesa City is regarded as the country’s model city in terms of environmental protection and conservation, and a good environmental plan is expected by the public.
The process of updating the Environmental Code will be completed by the 4th quarter of 2019, and this will be enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.