‘Environmental Ombudsman’ to ensure enforcement of green laws

Aside from eliminating corruption in government, the Ombudsman is also joining the fight to protect the environment.

Speaking to anti-graft officials and stakeholders in Cebu yesterday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales announced the revival of their Environmental Ombudsman.

She said a team of investigators and prosecutors were tasked to ensure the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and handle complaints against public officials and employees accused of violating environmental laws.

“Environmental stewardship is everyone’s responsibility. To effectively arrest environmental hazard and degradation, the citizenry must be engaged in the enforcement of environmental protection policies by participating in overseeing the public official’s enforcement of the country’s environmental laws,” she added.

Carpio also spearheaded the launching of the Environmental Ombudsman Layman’s Handbook which was written in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilonggo/Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, and Ilocano.

Zero casualty

“The Philippines is blessed with a plethora of natural resources. Yet, the people have seemingly ignored the fact that our natural resources are not infinite,” she said.

Under the Environmental Ombudsman program, anyone can file a complaint against a government official, employee, office or agency who refused to protect the environment or conserve natural resources.

The complaint shall be assessed or evaluated before it will be docketed as an environmental case for the conduct of administrative adjudication and preliminary investigation.

During yesterday’s Multi-Sectoral Integrity Conference at the Cebu City Sports Club, the Ombudsman handed over special citations to the municipality of San Francisco, Camotes Island and environmentalist lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. for championing environmental stewardship.

Compliance

The island-municipality of San Francisco was cited for registering zero casualty when supertyphoon Yolanda hit the Visayas in November 8 last year—a feat attributed to the town’s purok system that was introduced by Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr.

The system solved the town’s serious garbage problem and ensured proper segregation of wastes and regular cleaning and unclogging of gutters, drainage systems and creeks.

The Ombudsman also lauded Oposa for his inputs in the Environmental Solid Waste Management Compliance Program.

Oposa, an internationally recognized environmentalist, suggested that the team of anti-graft investigators take advantage of the power of the Ombudsman’s letterhead in assessing and ensuring compliance of national government agencies and local government units to implement and enforce environmental laws.

Lawyer Sonia Mendoza, chairperson of the Mother Earth Foundation, received the award in behalf of Oposa who was attending another activity in Manila.

In her message, Ombudsman Morales emphasized the role of the Ombudsman in safeguarding government funds and resources.
She said the Ombudsman is collaborating with different agencies to address corruption.