Paje fails to get CA nod for the third time

MANILA, Philippines - Environment Secretary Ramon Paje has failed to hurdle his confirmation hearing at the Commission on Appointments (CA) for the third time because of continued opposition from various sectors.

During the confirmation hearing yesterday, Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Antonio Cerilles led four individuals in opposing the appointment of Paje.

In his previous testimony at the CA, Cerilles, a former environment secretary, said Paje was not fit to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

During yesterday’s hearing, Cerilles questioned the total log ban and restrictions on mining.

The ban is contrary to the practices of other nations, he added.

Cerilles was asked to present several documents to support his claims against Paje at the next hearing.

A certain Cecilia Trinidad, wife of Minahang Bayan ng Albor Inc. president Alexander Trinidad, also manifested her opposition to the appointment of Paje.

Trinidad said their cooperative was in the process of renewing their documents in 2011, but that the DENR ordered them to transfer their operations to a Chinese entity.

In defense, Paje said it was the cooperative’s decision to transfer operations to the Chinese entity, not the DENR’s.

An internal dispute between two factions within the cooperative led to the filing of a case that went all the way to the Office of the President (OP), he added.

The OP has already dismissed the case,  Paje said.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III said among the issues that he wanted to raise to Paje concerns his management of the Philex Mining’s tailings spill in Padcal, Benguet.

“The Padcal spill is already the third spill from a Philex mine. Something happened earlier in the late 1990s in Negros and Zamboanga so this is not the first time,” he said.

The allegations against Paje must be answered in writing as Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez had demanded, Osmeña said.

CA committee on environment and natural resources chairman Loren Legarda said another meeting would be held next Wednesday to tackle Paje’s appointment.

Paje said he will continue reforms at the DENR despite criticisms as he knew from the start that certain quarters would oppose his policies.

“I am ready for it,” he said.

Paje said he will be firm in implementing the total log ban under   Executive Order 23 (Declaring a Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in the Natural and Residual Forests and Creating the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force.)

The EO has effectively dealt with the issue of illegal logging, he added.

Other Cabinet members that the CA has yet  to confirm are Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

–Marvin Sy, Rhodina Villanueva