Councilor hits lack of accountability, loopholes in national laws

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia has raised alarm over what he described as a systemic lack of accountability in government projects, pointing to loopholes in national laws that he said are easily exploited.

“I am greatly disappointed in the circumstances and the situation of the country,” he said on Thursday.

“I am very disheartened that our national laws are greatly insufficient to protect the public.”

Following the City Council’s third quad committee hearing on Iloilo City’s waterways, Sarabia said many provisions in existing laws are “too lenient,” making it difficult to hold responsible parties accountable.

“It is hard to seek accountability,” he said.

“This is very systematic—the problems we face in the country are very systematic.”

One loophole Sarabia cited involves projects classified under Category C, which are not covered by the Philippine environmental regulatory system and do not require an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), but may apply instead for a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC).

Under this mechanism, the local government can no longer issue a resolution of no objection to such projects.

“If our laws are too lenient, so many things can happen,” Sarabia said.

“So much abuse could be done.”

He said he plans to propose resolutions urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Congress to push for reforms in laws, administrative circulars, and procedures.

Sarabia emphasized the need for stronger coordination between national and local governments.

“We must stand firm in requiring coordination from national government agencies,” he said.

“If their laws are lenient, we will make them tighter for Iloilo City.”

He currently has a pending ordinance that seeks to mandate cooperation between national government agencies and the local government.

“This ordinance may not address all the insufficiencies,” he said.

“But no matter how limited the power of the City Council is, at least in our own way we can protect the Ilonggos.”

Sarabia also dismissed allegations that the City Council’s committee hearing is politically motivated, stressing that its purpose is to safeguard the lives, property, and welfare of the Ilonggo people.

“We are trying to fight something greatly stronger than us, greatly more powerful than us,” he said.

“A system that eats people alive.”

During Thursday’s hearing, the Iloilo City District Engineering Office sent representatives for the first time.

However, they only discussed the city’s pumping stations and failed to provide sufficient input on other pressing flood control issues raised by the City Council.