PILI, Camarines Sur -– Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte may be basking in the limelight for being ranked one of the country’s 17 elite “People of the Year 2006” for his adventure tourism program that banners the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex as a world-class sports facility.

Photo Caption: This map shows the location of the lot Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte purchased from the Provincial government.

        But the irony of it all — and certainly not good for a local leader who wanted to be looked upon as “achiever”, “hero” and “rising star” as his billboards want his people to believe — is the fact that the much-vaunted Camarines Sur Watersports Complex that L-Ray built out of precious taxpayers money does not have until now an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) nor a building permit, in gross violation of government laws and rules.

        A source from the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said they have already informed Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte about this oversight more than a year ago, and until now, they are still awaiting response from, or compliance by the provincial government.

        DENR requires all projects, public and private, to secure ECC before any construction work could star to ensure public safety and the protection/preservation of the physical, biological, socio-cultural, and economic environment.

        Among the documents needed for environment clearance are: zoning certification, certified true copy of TCT, topography map, plans and details of project installation, and accountability statement of project proponent, which in this case is the office of the governor. As it appears now, none of these documents have so far been submitted to the DENR, the source who requested not to be identified for fear of being reprimanded by influential people in the bureaucracy said.

        At the Pili town hall, Municipal Mayor Tom Bongalonta confirmed that the municipal engineer’s office does not have a record showing that structures built at the watersports complex have the necessary building permits. “No building permit was also secured from us even for the residential house that Gov. L-Ray reportedly built at Bgy. Cadlan along the highway which is only a few meters away from the provincial capitol,” the mayor said.

        He added that he had already warned the DPWH following separate complaints that the governor’s newly-built home has actually occupied the shoulder of the national highway by planting decorative royal palms on its frontage that used to be part of the highway.

        Meanwhile, as Bicol Mail verified the status of the watersports complex, it was discovered that Congressman and former Camarines Sur Gov. Luis R. Villafuerte had purchased a parcel of land, measuring 1,000 square meters, within the provincial capitol compound, about a year ago from the provincial government.

        A copy of a deed of absolute sale shows that the parcel of land which is only a few kilometers away from the watersports complex was purchased at the cost of P200,000.

        The deed of absolute sale dated February 6, 2006 was signed by Luis R. Villafuerte as buyer and the Camarines Sur provincial government, thru Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte (L-Ray), as seller, with Atty. Celestina Manlagnit-Tam as notary public.