Impact study on 2 Cebu flyovers confidential: EMB

Saturday, October 29, 2011

THE movement opposed to the construction of two flyovers in Cebu City is also looking into the setup of barangay development councils that would ensure public participation in proposed government-initiated projects.

“We are assessing the situation,” lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, a Movement for a Liveable Cebu member, told Sun.Star Cebu.

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“If there is an urgent need, we're ready to file a petition as part of the remedies to activate the local development council,” she added.

Ramos issued the statement after the group met with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Rogelio Singson in Manila to discuss the reasons they are against the infrastructure projects.

She said the development council would ensure that there would be a public consultation for the planning and monitoring of government projects.

Liable

“If any mayor or barangay head would refuse to activate the development council, they may be held administratively liable,” she added.

In a related development, businessman Joel Lee last month requested from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB 7) copies of the environmental impact system (EIS) for the two contested flyover projects at the junction of Gorordo and Archbishop Reyes Avenues and at the junction of M. J. Cuenco and Gen. Maxilom Avenues to Juan Lune Ave.

The ECC for the Gorordo flyover, which has a total land area of 5,412 square meters, was issued on Sept. 12, 2011 by then acting EMB 7 director Alan Arranguez, while the certificate for the Maxilom flyover was issued on March 17, 2004.

But EMB 7 Director Fernando Quililan denied the request in a letter dated Oct. 17, 2011, stating that the documents are considered confidential.

Quililan cited DENR Administrative Order 97-24, which states that “documents classified as confidential or CD are solely available to DENR officials/personnel and therefore cannot be accessed, handled, reproduced by unauthorized persons.”

He added that disclosure of information from this kind of document is given only with the discretion of Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

Basis

Ramos explained that the request was made to determine the impact of the flyover construction on the environment.

“This (EIS) is the basis for making an assertion that the ECC issuance is valid,” she said.

“We are also holding the DENR liable for the lack of public consultation because they are liable for the protection of the environment and heritage,” she added.

The construction of the two flyovers was temporarily deferred after DPWH Undersecretary for Regional Operations Romeo Momo issued a memorandum, citing the opposition to the projects.

In a separate interview, DPWH 7 Information Officer Marie Nellana said the documents on the two flyovers that were put on hold have been sent to the Central Office for review.