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[av_heading heading=’Illegal reclamation at Dungon Creek stopped ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, March 3, 2017
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ILOILO City – Finally, the Dungon Creek in Barangay Taft North, Mandurriao district has been cleared of obstructions.
Yesterday or on the last day of the 30-day ultimatum given to businessman Ong Ching Liong, City Administrator Hernando Galvez said the boulders were all removed.
Nearby residents blamed the reclamation for the flooding they were experiencing.
“Medyo happy kita sini kay bisan papaano, may pagtuman sa aton mando kag sa mando sang kasugoan. Kag napamatud naton nga ang aton City Legal Office kag mga concerned agencies insakto sa panindugan nga dapat kuhaon nila,” said Galvez.
As to the possible liability of the businessman, Galvez said the city government will leave it to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that has the mandate on environmental issues.
Galvez said this case should serve as a warning to others who will do the same.
Last month, the city government and concerned agencies warned Ong to remove his illegal reclamation or face charges.
Ong was given 30 days from Jan. 31 to remove the obstructions but during a subsequent inspection, only around 40 percent of the boulders were removed.
The businessman’s camp asked for a dialogue and tried to convince the city government that he will just relocate the boulders.
But the city government and concerned agencies / departments such as the Iloilo City Engineer’s Office, Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO), Iloilo City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 stood firm on their call to have the obstructions completely removed.
In a letter to Ong, Galvez wrote: “This representation finds no cogent reason to deviate from the consolidated stand of the concerned department / agencies contained in a letter dated Feb. 21, 2017. Hence, compliance to the instruction contained therein is sought for,” the letter read./PN
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