Processing of ECC in Subic streamlined

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Zambales – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) streamlined the processing and issuance of environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) and certificates of non-coverage (CNCs) within the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) area in line with President Arroyo’s program of enhancing transparency in government transactions.

This developed as the DENR also implements its online Environmental Impact System (EIS)–Information System, where new applications for ECC and CNC can be viewed at the Department’s official website.

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza said that all ECC and CNC applications for projects located within SBMA area shall now be processed by the DENR office here, through the regional Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

Under DENR Administrative Order 14, Series of 2009, the approval of the ECC and CNC applications is now within the authority of the EMB regional director.

Approval of applications for ECC and CNC within the Laguna de Bay area is likewise with the EMB regional offices of either DENR Region 4A or the National Capital Region (NCR) under the newly issued DENR administrative order.

“This move is pursuant to Presidential Administrative Order No. 42, Series of 2002, which designated the EMB regional directors as the approving officials for ECC applications for non-environmentally critical projects located in critical areas, as well as CNC applications for projects not covered by the EIS system,” Atienza said. By FRANCO G. REGALA - Manila Bulletin

Architect gives up $1M in protest

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines—For his belief in protecting the environment, architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. lost what could have been six months of payroll worth $1 million (P48.8 million).

Palafox said he had broken ties with a Korean-backed project in this free port after he learned that more than 300 trees would be destroyed to give way to a casino and hotel resort.

“There are 366 trees there, and 37 of them are century-old, so they are heritage trees already. The reason why I broke with that group (Grand Utopia Inc.) is because I refuse to compromise myself and the environment,” Palafox told the Inquirer by interview on Friday.

“I would have gotten $1 million—six months worth of payroll. But that’s rape of the environment,” he said.

“Frankly, in Korea, a project like this will never be allowed. Their government and people will not allow it. But here, government officials let it happen and we are treated like second class citizens,” he said.

Not his work

Palafox said a foreign architectural firm tapped him to design Grand Utopia’s casino hotel but in the end, he noted, it all amounted to being asked to sign on other people’s work.

“They wanted my name and license, asked me to put my name on the work of others. They have to be investigated for that. No foreign architect can practice in another country without a license,” he said.

Palafox said the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is “trying to get away from the issue.”

“They said in their letter to Eric Park of Grand Utopia that the area was classified as an urban jungle zone. How can they build several levels of basement garages there if they won’t get rid of the trees?” he asked.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, however, said the agency would protect trees inside the free port and would exert all efforts to save these amid the development of the $120-million Ocean 9 Casino and Hotel Resort.

SBMA promise

“We won’t stand for the cutting of trees. Definitely, we won’t allow it,” said Arreza.

Amethya dela Llana-Koval, head of the SBMA Ecology Center, said the project site is within the central business district of the free port zone that is not classified as a protected area.

“We only characterized that area as an urban jungle because it was densely populated by trees. But the zoning of that area is commercial, so there should really be no objection to establishments being built there,” Koval said.

‘Green spaces’

She said no trees would be cut in that area, a former mini golf course established by the United States Navy here.

“No trees will be cut. That’s our policy. What we’re going to do is ball the trees, nurture them, and place them in ’green spaces’ within the free port. Some of them will even be left in the area, around the perimeter of the proposed establishment,” she said.

The relocated trees, Koval said, would be taken to the “green spaces” or areas where no or minimal development are allowed.

She said the SBMA has given Grand Utopia a demolition permit and a temporary fencing permit. The firm does not have any authority to touch any of the trees in the area, she said.

“They have applied for permits to ball (transplant) the trees, but they have yet to submit the balling plan. The relocation areas are already identified and by the time the environmental compliance certificate has been issued to Grand Utopia—probably by December this year if they comply with all requirements —then the relocation of the trees can begin,” she said.

Koval said the casino and hotel resort project is considered by the SBMA as “non-critical,” which means that the ecology center can issue an ECC to Grand Utopia without the need of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to approve it.

“It is within the jurisdiction of the SBMA, but we will coordinate with the DENR,” she said. By Robert Gonzaga - Inquirer Central Luzon Desk

Zambales folks urge immediate implementation of port project

By. Jonas Reyes – Manila Bulletin

Masinloc, Zambales – Residents of this coastal town are urging the immediate implementation of the proposed P4.5-billion commercial port project here, which is designed to compliment ongoing development projects in the Central Luzon growth corridor.

Masinloc Vice Mayor Roberto Eamilao, a staunch supporter of the project, said the proposed commercial port would bring about the sustainable development of the northern half of Zambales, which has been largely left behind in terms of infrastructure development.

The Masinloc commercial port project will be our equalizer, Eamilao told newsmen over the weekend.

This is our only hope of finally bringing Masinloc and the northern towns into the sphere of development, as well as to help realize the potentials of Central Luzon, he added.

Eamilao said the Masinloc port project already has a willing investor the Rizhao Development Corp., a transportation and logistics firm backed by Chinas Rizhao Port Group.

Eamilao said Rizhao plans to renovate the aging ore-loading pier in this town, expand its storage yard, and upgrade its cargo-handling capacity from the current 500 metric tons to a maximum of 4 million tons.

Rizhao also seeks to establish an industrial park two kilometers away from the port to serve as a logistics and warehousing center for the plot project, as well as a site for a ferries nickel smelting plant for ores coming from various mining towns in the province.

The smelting plant project, proposed to be built in a 50-hectare area, was among the project endorsed by the Philippine government when a trade delegation visited Beijing on August 8, Eamilao said.

Eamilao, who first broached the commercial port project when he won as Masinloc mayor in 1998, said the Rizhao proposal appears to be highly feasible because the company has already formulated an integrated port development scheme to ensure the sustainability of the project.

Under the plan, Rizhao will also seek out investor companies who locate in the industrial park, as well as deploy small cargo vessels to various commercial ports in the country to load export products bound for China.

The Masinloc port will then largely be used as a transshipment point for exports that will be transported to China via bigger cargo ships and container vessels, Eamilao explained,

Eamilao, however, disclosed that the Rizhao proposal is endangered by vaccilation among some members of the town council, who had earlier noted in the approving resolution that the eventual realization of the project will greatly help in the economic development not only of the barangay, but also of the municipality of Masinloc and the province of Zambales.

Now they are saying that there are environmental concerns yet to be addressed, that there will be some mangroves that will be destroyed, and that there should be strict compliance in permitting requirements, Eamilao lamented.

I see this as simply delaying tactics, but for what ultimate purpose, I really don’t know, he added.

Eamilao pointed out that Rizaho had already secured clearance for the project from the local Protected Area management Board (PAMB), which has administrative jurisdiction over Masinloc’s Oyon Bay Marine Reserve, where the project will be party located.

The PAMB clearance, documents showed, was granted to Rizhao on July 8 this year, while an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the project was given by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region III on September 2, 2008.

Clearly, the PAMB clearance and the EMB (ECC) are concrete proofs that the proposed port development project has undergone through deliberation and evaluation, Eamilao said.

He added that aside from the environmental clearances, approval of the project has also been given by Brgy. Baloganon, the host barangay, through a resolution dated July 7, 2008, and by the town council through the June 11 resolution that it later recalled.

It is worthy to note that the two resolutions were both passed and approved after the issuance of a Mayor’s Permit by Mayor Jessu Edora in May 2008, Eamilao Said.

PUBLIC HEARING ON USE OF MABAYUAN RIVER AS A WATER SOURCE

A public hearing was held to take up the issue on Subic Water’s plan to make Mabayuan River a water source. It was the second hearing held regarding the issue.

City Councilor JC G. de los Reyes led the public hearing which was also attended by Councilor Ellen Dabu, City Attorney Angelito Orozco, concerned citizens and representatives from the barangays who will be affected by the amendment of the permit that will allow Subic Water to tap Mabayuan River.

One of the issues discussed in the public hearing was whether the water of Mabayuan River is safe for human use and consumption.

According to Orozco, they will submit a petition opposing the proposed amendment of Subic Water’s permit. Concrete facts and evidence are currently being collated to support the petition, he said.

It can be recalled that Councilor de los Reyes has already raised the issue to Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. He also said that whether or not Subic Water already has an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) is another matter to look into.

City Councilors JC G. de los Reyes and Ellen Dabu, City Attorney Angelito Orozco and concerned citizens during the public hearing held on July 29, 2008 at the Session Hall of the Olongapo City Hall. Opinions of the concerned citizens were discussed regarding the proposed amendment of the permit of Subic Water that will allow it to use Mabayuan River as a water source.

PAO/Don

Villar fears Hanjin is deceiving gov't

SENATE President Manuel Villar express apprehension that the South Korean Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Co. Ltd. is trying to bluff the government by withdrawing the $2-billion shipyard facility in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

"Sa tingin ko puwede ring bluff lang naman pero tingnan muna natin kasi sayang din, kasi I was told na 40 mil ang kukunin nilang trabaho," Villar told reporters in a press conference during his visit in Cagayan de Oro City Friday.

But Villar is still counting the possibility that the government both the local and national will come up with a win-win solution to iron out whatever paradox that hounds the realization of the said project.

The senator also cited that Hanjin has committed some mistakes on their project particularly in Subic wherein they constructed a condominium in the middle of the forest without environment compliance certificate (ECC), which is a violation.

However, Villar said if the government cannot dissuade Hanjin from withdrawing the project this will cause a negative effect, adding that thousands have lost an opportunity for a possible job.

Villar declined to give comment on the possible reasons of Hanjin's desire to withdraw their billion-dollar shipyard project in Villanueva.

"I don't want to comment since wala akong masyadong alam sa problema sa Hanjin with the local government," Villar said.

Environment Impact Statement

But for the part of Engineer Alex Jimenez, chief of Environment Impact Statement Division (EISD) of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Hanjin has yet to submit their Environment Impact Statement (EIS) before they can start the operation of the shipyard project.

Jimenez though emphasized that EMB has no problem with regards to Hanjin's application. "In fact, the EMB had already issued an environment compliance certificate (ECC) last April 28 while the certificate of non-coverage (CNC) for perimeter fencing and site clearing was issued last April 4 of this year."

The first ECC issued by EMB to Hanjin is for the 5-meter high and 1,207.213-meter length perimeter fence, training and lecture, and office building and support services compose of gas refilling station, sewerage disposal facility, and guardhouse projects.

"But the consultant of Hanjin has yet to finish some other documents for the EIS," Jimenez told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Jimenez said for Hanjin to secure another ECC for the shipyard operation they should first comply the EIS necessary procedures by conducting a public hearing, data gatherings, inventory of the area, scooping and among others.

Last April 23, Hanjin and Phividec representatives along with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), EMB officials conducted a public consultation in barangays Tambobong and Balacanas in Villanueva town Misamis Oriental.

"So far tapos na lahat ang preparatory procedure for the EIS, pero magdepende pa rin `yan sa consultant ng Hanjin kung kailan niya isa-submit ang mga documents," Jimenez said. By Annabelle L. Ricalde - SunStar

Cayetano hits Hanjin on alleged bribery attempt

Sen. Pia Cayetano today criticized Korean investor Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. for allegedly offering a P400-million contract to a municipal mayor in Misamis Oriental in exchange for a reversal of his order stopping the construction of a $2-billion shipyard that had not secured the necessary permits.

At the same time, she expressed disgust over the report that Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano even caught the ire of President Arroyo for going against the project.

"I am outraged to hear that Hanjin offered such favor to the local official to allow them to continue construction even without first securing a municipal building permit and environmental compliance certificate (ECC), among others. These are basic requirements under the law, regardless of whether you're a local or foreign investor," Cayetano said.

"But what I found more revealing is when President Arroyo even scolded Mayor Emano (last Wednesday in Cagayan de Oro City) for standing his ground, even if he only acted in accordance with his duties as an elected public official. The President also allegedly ignored him when he reported the matter about Hanjin's offer," Cayetano, Senate environment and natural resources committee chairperson, added.

Cayetano said an obvious trend regarding foreign-funded project was disturbing.

"The first points to a trend showing Hanjin's utter refusal to abide by our laws, as it has been involved in a similar controversy in Subic. Second is government's apparent tolerance of violations of national and environmental laws allegedly committed by this investor. And the third, and most disturbing, is the President playing deaf and dumb again on what could possibly be another bribery attempt brought to her attention," Cayetano said.

She noted that Hanjin had been under fire for constructing two condominiums beginning January 2007 inside the protected Subic forest reserve without an ECC. Hanjin applied for an ECC only in March 2007 and was granted the same by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in July 2007. By then, Hanjin's 22-storey condominium was already eight floors high, while the 12-storey condominium was already four floors high.-- Aurea Calica, PhilStar