DENR tells LGUs to clear rivers and coastlines of illegal structures

CEBU, Philippines – An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that the chief executives of various local government units (LGUs) shall be the one responsible to clear the rivers and coastlines of illegal structures.

Edmundo Arregadas, head of the DENR's coastal and marine management division, said it is the local government units who issue building permits for any construc-tion.

According to him, the local government units should see to it that structures are not built on areas like river banks and shorelines. Arregadas said the DENR will just inform LGUs concerned about the presence of illegal structures. However, he did not say what sanction an official would face for ignoring DENR's letters.

He admitted that illegal structures on prohibited areas can be found throughout Cebu City and province, including in the beaches.

"Ang mga baybayon gipangtukoran og mga structures nga dili g'yud unta angay," Arregadas said. But it was learned that some of the beach resorts, particularly in Lapulapu City, have been granted lease agreements by the DENR to use the beaches for their business.

In Bantayan Island, the government already started destroying the illegal structures built on the shorelines.

Arregadas observed that some government officials are not cooperative with them in the campaign against illegal structures although he did not say why.

In Cebu City, some officials said the reason that the occupants of illegal structures can't be easily removed from their location is their being voters.

"Samot na karon nga hapit na ang eleksyon sa barangay modupa g'yud kanila ang mga opisyal aron botahan gihapon sa eleksyon," the City Hall official said.

Aside from the Mahiga Creek, the illegal structures can also be found in other creeks and rivers and the government has failed to act on them in the past years.

Mahiga creek is situated in the boundary of Barangays Mabolo in Cebu City and Subangdaku in Mandaue City.

It used to be a wide waterway, but it slowly became narrow because of the illegal structures. (FREEMAN)