The members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan 'locked horns' on a sensitive provision of the proposed Bohol Mining Ordinance of 2008, deliberated during the second reading last week.
The bone of contention was the provision in one of the "preambles" of the said Ordinance that an applicant must secure first an approved Ordinance from the SP prior to securing a permit to mine or extract quarry.
It is perceived as an added burden on the part of a would-be permittee aside from securing permit and other documents such as Environmental Clearance Certifi-cate (ECC) to be issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The SP deliberated the proposed measure on a piece-meal basis, debating only articles I and II after a "hiatus" when it was calendared for second reading two months ago. The board decided to give ample time to study the measure.
Board Member Alfonso Damalerio II, main sponsor of the measure, insisted on said provision while his colleagues seemed to cast doubts whether it is proper that the issuing official (governor) would be issuing permit only when there is an approved Ordinance for every applicant.
Artcile I delves title and definition of terms contained in the ordinance while article II is about extraction and disposal of materials.
Also tackled during the deliberation was the so-called 20-meter salvage zone, which has been breached by resort owners/ operators particularly in Panglao island.
For her part, Board Member Aster Piollo, a lawyer, wanted the 20-m zone protected.
She proposed as an amendment that the proposed 10-meter zone in said measure be extended to 20-m as provided by national law.
By extending another 10 meters in the proposed measure, resort owners/operators would not be given an opportunity to make use of the area within 20 meters, lawmakers agreed. - Ric Obedencio, the Bohol Chronicle