by: DONALD SEVILLA
AN UNFORGIVABLE FAUX PAS
Truth be told, our provincial leaders have shot themselves in the foot. The recent public outrage over the construction of a tourist resort in the middle of the Chocolate Hills despite being within a protected area and a declared UNESCO GLOBAL geopark is one for the record books.
It is not only the height of stupidity and incompetence but symptomatic of a greater malady endemic in our society.
The way things work out is for those who are close to positions of power and influence to attempt to get away wth transgressions to our laws. No one in his right mind would dare risk investing millions of pesos in a controversial project without some assurances from the powers that be.
What is seemingly obvious here are certain ties that bind those who are players in this controversy.
On the part of the DENR and our local officials they cannot claim complete innocence to what is happening. Why this construction was allowed to begin with despite it being in a protected area is beyond most of us?
We have strict environmental and building laws, yet, we miserably fail to enforce them. This incident which has caught the attention of the global community is a big blackeye to our tourism promotion efforts and the prestigious UNESCO declaration. The Chocolate Hills has brought Bohol to the world map.
While this has generated concern coming from celebrities, environmentalists and national lawmakers, it shows to highlight the weaknesses of our system of governance where just about any smart Alec can get away scot-free if not for the vigilance of ordinary citizens empowered by social media.
The finger pointing among the authorities concerned, passing the buck solely on DENR’S shoulders is disgusting. Understandably, no one wants to claim responsibility and everyone wants to do a “Pontius Pilate” washing hands off the controversy.
Yet, to any innocent bystander, the writings on the wall are quite obvious. Like a comedy skit in a whodunnit movie where no one admits to a crime even if only they were in the room, we can only sigh in desperation at our leaders’ actuations.
” Not I said the man in the suit, nor me retorted the woman in her dress, each looking intently at one another while hoping there could have been somebody else in the elevator where the putrid smell of a fart filled the air.
Meanwhile an innocent looking kid in the corner looked up at them and pointed to the open door and proudly said, maybe it was the rat that hurriedly left.”
These said, aren’t we surprised? Blame the DENR. Blame the local municipal officials. Blame the barangay captain. Blame the landowner. Blame facebook and just about everyone else.
But at the end of the day, under whose command responsibility should this issue rest? Your guess is as good as mine.