Oriental Negros Gov. George Arnaiz said he believes Environment Secretary Michael Defensor could be held liable and charged for canceling the Integrated Forest Management Awards contracts, covering about 16,000 hectares of land in different parts of the province.

Arnaiz said he will join the complaints of the Tree Planters Federation of People's Organizations of Oriental Negros over their cancelled 30 out of 50 IFMAs under contract with non-government and people's organizations in the province.

Arnaiz said that, contrary to Defensor's perception of "unsatisfactory performance," the IFMA contracted projects in the province were doing well and are about to be harvested.

Arnaiz said he is one of the signatories to the IFMA entered into among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, NGOs and POs, and local government units.

He said he will also volunteer to be a principal witness should the TPFPO headed by Capt. Amorsolo Jordan, charge Defensor.

Jordan had accused the environment secretary of not consulting the contract holders when he scrapped the agreement.

The community-based forest management project started in 1997 under a 25-year contract renewable for another 25 years to protect the remaining forest cover of the province.*RG

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