Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno (2nd from left) with Grace Padaca, former governor of Isabela, and employees of the MWSS led by Adminitrator Gerry Esquivel (4th from left). |
MALOLOS CITY—Lawyers and environment advocates in Bulacan
hailed recent appointment of former Chief Justice Reynato Puno as legal advisor
to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s ((MWSS) newly formed Task
Force Five Watersheds (TF5W).
Lawyer Ted Villanueva, chair of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines (IBP) Bulacan chapter said Puno’s appointment is timely.
“It came at a very opportune time when natural disasters are
hitting different part so the country,” he said.
Villanueva said the country must not wait for another
disaster to happen saying that Puno’s appointment is both active and proactive
move.
“We really need to prepare, and the former chief justice new
job is a preparation in itself,” he said.
Last week, Puno formally accepted the job as legal advisor
to MWSS-TF5W that will initiate the Integrated Watershed Management System
(IWMS).
A volunteer job, Puno will get P1 a year salary in
establishing a legal framework for the implementation of the IWMS.
“Its about that we have a consolidated law on watershed
management, and I agree with the former chief justice because there are
overlaps in the laws and some parts of it are archaic already,” said Villanueva
who is now actively pushing for the conduct of an environment summit in Bulacan
by June this year.
Puno’s appointment was also welcome by Bro. Martin
Francisco, the chair of the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society (SSMES);
Lawyer Rustico De Belen, head of the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources
Office (BENRO); and Mendel Garcia, the head of the Angat Watershed Area Team
(AWAT).
Francisco cited Puno’s accomplishments as Chief Justice
including the issuance of the Writ of Kalikasan, and the creation of green
court that hears environment related cases.
For his part, De Belen said that Puno is “a true advocate of
environmental justice.”
“His court is known for its noble and selfless efforts to
protect the environment,” De Belen said.
The former chief justice appointment also open new hopes for
Garcia of the AWAT.
He said that Puno should also visit the Angat Dam Watershed
which supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs.
The Angat Dam Watershed is one of the five watersheds that
Puno and members of the TF5W is aiming to protect.
The others are the Umiray Watershed, La Mesa Watershed, Ipo
Watershed and the Marikina Watershed.
In an interview last week, Puno said that protection of all
five watersheds is critical as far as securing potable water supply for Metro
manila is concerned.
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