Dumaluan to face more sanctions

Panglao Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan faces the possibility of another penalty in the event that he disregards the cease and desist order (CDO) imposed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Newly-installed provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO) Eduardo Inting issued the warning when asked to comment on the CDO issued by acting DENR Regional Director Alan Arranguez.

Inting said Dumaluan already received the CDO from the Environmental Management Bureau chief Nestor Canda. The resort management earlier refused to receive the CDO, prompting the DENR to serve it by mail. The new PENRO however declined to elaborate on the penalty that will be issued in the event that the CDO is disregarded. Inting also bared that he still has to look into the terms provided in the CDO. At the same time, the PENRO explained that it is no longer the responsibility of the DENR to effect the demolition of the project that is liable for the violation. This will be the responsibility of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

He explained that the DENR will monitor the project every now to determine if the CDO has been complied with. If the CDO continues to be violated, Inting said they will coordinate with the DPWH to undertake the appropriate action to effect the necessary correction at the work being undertaken at the resort. Arranguez earlier issued a CDO against the construction in a controversial expansion project at the resort owned by the mayor for its insistence on the project without an environmental compliance certificate (ECC). Aside from the CDO, the DENR also slapped a P50,000 fine on Dumaluan, the project proponent, for the violations.

The issuance of the CDO virtually demolished the claims made by Dumaluan in other newspapers that he has an ECC for the project. Meanwhile, Arranguez declined to issue any comment on his next move saying he is still waiting for the report of the unit that served the CDO. He added that he will study the recommendations before making his next move.

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