The local government of Panglao is rejecting the provincial government’s bid to establish a joint-coordinating body that aims to streamline the development of Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City.
Seemingly in an act of defiance against the Capitol-initiated Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Council (PITEC) which was established to serve as a coordinating and advisory body to facilitate the development of the municipalities of Panglao and Dauis and the City of Tagbilaran, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Panglao passed a resolution opposing the municipality’s inclusion into the council.
The SB resolution expresses the sentiment of local officials of Panglao, particularly Mayor Leonila Montero, who are apparently trying to veer away from placing the municipality under a more professionally handled management which will direct the progress and development of Panglao.
Just days after Governor Edgar Chatto signed into law Provincial Ordinance No. 2016-015, creating the PITEC, the SB of Panglaoalso passed Resolution No. 231, expressing its non-conformity to the creation of the PITEC.
Entitled, “A resolution signifying non-conformity with Provincial Ordinance No. 2016-15, creating the Panglao Island and Tagbilaran Executive Coucil PITEC,” the resolution was adopted on May 29, 2017, just eleven days after the provincial ordinance was approved by Gov. Chatto.
The Panglao municipal council relayed a copy of the resolution to Gov. Chatto on June 2, 2017.
Under the provincial ordinance the PITEC is to be chaired by Governor Chatto while the municipal mayors of both Dauis and Panglao and the City Mayor of Tagbilaran will sit as Vice-Chairpersons.
The PITEC was created in anticipation of the eventual operation of the New Bohol Airport which is expected to spur economic development in the 3 member-LGUs.
However, in said resolution, the Panglao SB cited requirements under Section 33 of the Local Government Code that were not complied with in the crafting of the provincial ordinance.
Panglao municipal lawmakers pointed out the failure of the provincial government to execute a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the member-LGUs and the conduct of public hearing.
“[T]here is a need to draft memoranda of agreement among the concerned local government units, namely, the Municipalities of Panglao and Dauis and the City of Tagbilaran; the provisions of the subject ordinance, after some refinements, could be integrated into the suggested memoranda,” the resolution states.
Invoking the requirement for a public hearing under Section 33 of the Local Government Code, the resolution states that the requirement for public hearing should have been complied with in the first place since the provincial ordinance is apparently anchored on the said provision of the Code.
Section 33 of the LGC provides that local government units may, through appropriate ordinances, group themselves, consolidate, or coordinate their efforts, services, and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them.
In support of such undertakings, the LGUs involved may, upon approval by the sanggunian concerned after a public hearing conducted for the purpose, contribute funds or property and appoint personnel under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the participating local units through memoranda of agreement.
It may be recalled that early this year, the Sangguniang Panlalawiganenacted the ordinance creating the PITEC to serve as a coordinating and advisory body for environmental protection and conservation, and to serve as a mechanism for reaching consensus among the LGUs concerned and giving them proper advice for the implementation of their respective ordinances or passage of resolutions as applicable.
The council, which is composed of the governor and the three mayors, will be assisted by the Scientific Council composed of scientists, researchers, and practitioners from top universities, the Coastal Conservation and Executive Foundation (CCEF), and the PanglaoDauisBaclayon-Bohol Marine Triangle (PADAYON-BMT). It provides the technical and scientific advice for environmental protection and conservation to the PITEC.
On the other hand, the support organizations come from national government agencies, particularly, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DOT), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
The Bohol Environmental Management Office (BEMO) serves as secretariat of the council’s Tourism and Nature Conservation Working Group while the Provincial Health Office (PHO) is the secretariat of the Waste Management Working Group. (KB)