Governor vows to do ‘what’s right’

SOUTH Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. addressed the crowd in a solidarity march outside the provincial capital of South Cotabato initiated by the Diocese of Marbel on Thursday, May 19, to protest the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining in the province.

”Today, we will create a TWG (technical working group) that will study the amendments made by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to our Environment Code,” he said.

Tamayo said his office has not received an official copy of the amended Environment Code, which he could either veto or allow to lapse into law by not signing it 15 days from receipt thereof.

Tamayo said the recommendations of the TWG will be the basis for his decision, taking into account “what’s right and for the greater welfare of the people.”

Before he will make a decision, the governor vowed to discuss the recommendations of the TWG with both the anti- and pro-mining groups. Bishop Cerilo Alan Casicas welcomes the decision of Tamayo to create a TWG to help him come up with a decision, adding that “the governor showed sincerity during our meeting to hear our side.”

”But in the end, we hope he will decide based on the wisdom of the people. The most powerful voice is not of the governor but the voice of the people,” Casicas said.

Casicas said the governor told them during the closed-door meeting that the amended Environment Code reached his office but the Sangguniang Panlalawigan recalled it “for some reasons.

”He said they are hoping that the provincial board will no longer transmit a copy of the controversial measure to the Office of the Governor with the outrage expressed by various sectors, including on social media.

The Provincial Council approved on Monday the amendments to the environment code of South Cotabato province, including the provision on the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining in Tampakan town.

Council members who favored the amendment were Vicente de Jesus, Larry de Pedro 4th, environment committee chairman; Dardanilo Dar, Noel Escobillo, Antonio Fungan, Eamon Gabriel Mati, Henry Ladot, and Glezel Trabado, acting presiding officer. Indigenous peoples (IPs) mandatory representative Edgar Sambong and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Alaisa Marie Fale also voted in favor of the amendment as well as Rolando Mabuyoc, president of Association of Barangay Captains; and Grace Achura, president of Philippine Councilors League.

Board Member Ester Marin Catorce, designated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government as acting governor, openly opposed the amendment but was not present during Monday’s regular session.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Ellen Grace Subere-Albios and Jinky Avance-Samodal, who both opposed the open-pit mining operation, were also absent during the session.

De Pedro, main author of the proposal to remove the ban on open-pit mining and son of the late South Cotabato Gov. Hilario de Pedro 3rd, was unfazed by the public backlash generated by their move to lift the prohibition.

”You have expressed your suspicions, outrage, dismay and outright condemnation of our decision as a collegial body. You are entitled to that and you are also entitled to know the real reasons,” he said in a post on Facebook.

De Pedro claimed the environment code “is violative of the 1987 Constitution,” among others.