DENR clears mining firm of environmental violations raps
IBA, ZAMBALES—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the province has cleared Benguet Corp. (BC) from charges of environmental violations filed by Zambales officials.
Separate reports submitted by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (Penro), the Community Environment and Natural Resources (Cenro) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to the DENR regional office showed that the charges filed by Sta. Cruz Mayor Luisito Marty and Lomboy village chair Danilo Merced against Benguet Corp. were “unfounded.”
Earlier, Marty and Merced sought government intervention after they complained that the BC has been destroying the environment in its operations and disturbing local communities. They also filed the same complaint with Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.
Marty said the complaint was based on community leaders’ report in Barangays Lomboy and Guisguis that the activities had destroyed their farms, roads and other infrastructure.
Location
The provincial DENR’s findings, according to BC lawyer Reynaldo Mendoza, closely approximated the result of the investigation conducted earlier by the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) on the same complaint.
The PMRB, Mendoza said, recommended the case’s closure.
The DENR report said contrary to Merced’s allegations, the BC’s mining area is located in the villages of Guisguis and Guinabon, and not in Barangay Lomboy.
During a site inspection, village guards of Lomboy said the BC was not using barangay roads for their operations because the company was building its own haul road. Geodetic surveys showed that the road is in neighboring Barangay Guisguis.
The inspection team said no mining company had operated in Barangay Lomboy from December 2006 to March 2007 except A3UNA Mining Corp., which was found to be responsible for the dust and dirt pollution in the village. Cesar Villa, Inquirer Central Luzon
Separate reports submitted by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (Penro), the Community Environment and Natural Resources (Cenro) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to the DENR regional office showed that the charges filed by Sta. Cruz Mayor Luisito Marty and Lomboy village chair Danilo Merced against Benguet Corp. were “unfounded.”
Earlier, Marty and Merced sought government intervention after they complained that the BC has been destroying the environment in its operations and disturbing local communities. They also filed the same complaint with Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.
Marty said the complaint was based on community leaders’ report in Barangays Lomboy and Guisguis that the activities had destroyed their farms, roads and other infrastructure.
Location
The provincial DENR’s findings, according to BC lawyer Reynaldo Mendoza, closely approximated the result of the investigation conducted earlier by the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) on the same complaint.
The PMRB, Mendoza said, recommended the case’s closure.
The DENR report said contrary to Merced’s allegations, the BC’s mining area is located in the villages of Guisguis and Guinabon, and not in Barangay Lomboy.
During a site inspection, village guards of Lomboy said the BC was not using barangay roads for their operations because the company was building its own haul road. Geodetic surveys showed that the road is in neighboring Barangay Guisguis.
The inspection team said no mining company had operated in Barangay Lomboy from December 2006 to March 2007 except A3UNA Mining Corp., which was found to be responsible for the dust and dirt pollution in the village. Cesar Villa, Inquirer Central Luzon
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
7:41 AM
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