Why only one staffer in Cebu City’s environment office? Oversight noted

TWO years after its creation was approved by the Cebu City Council, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) has only one staff member.

There should be 35 personnel through a consolidation of other environment-related offices, said Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera, who was surprised by the  oversight.

“Mayor Michael Rama failed to execute his order,”  she said.

Cenro is headed by William Cris Artajo.

Mayor Michael Rama signed an executive order last Feb. 16, 2011 to consolidate  Cenro with other environment offices within three months and have  an initial P7 million budget.

This should include the Mines and Quarries Section of the City Planning and Development Office, the Coastline Management Board, Solid Waste Management Board, Bantay Dagat Commission, Cebu City Rivers Management Council  and City Mining Regulatory Board ,  the City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team , and the Clean Air Law Enforcement Office

Cabrera said the neglect of the Cenro resulted in environment projects being relegated to the back burner. Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao