Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Relief of EMB officials 'to delay mining projects'
THE reassignment of two officials of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 will delay some mining projects, a Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 official said yesterday.
“The reassignment might affect recent issuances of ECCs for mining projects under the term of (EMB 7 director Alan) Arranguez. We also heard that the issuances of ECCs might also be delayed,” said MGB 7 director Roger de Dios.
The MGB 7 does not have the authority to issue environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) for mining companies in the region. The EMB 7 is the sole agency authorized to issue ECCs, said de Dios.
An ECC evaluates a set of documents describing a certain project, its processes and possible effects on the environment.
Conditions
This set of documents, as well as an EMB technical personnel’s knowledge, is supposed to guide EMB in deciding what conditions to impose in the ECC of a project.
However, with the recent reassignment of the top officials of the EMB 7, de Dios predicts that mining projects will slow down for a while.
Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, in an order issued last Sept. 29, relieved Arranguez and EMB legal division officer-in-charge Noel Empleo.
Arranguez has been transferred to the DENR 7 technical division for research while Empleo has been returned to the DENR 7 legal division.
Arranguez and Empleo were reportedly reassigned because of the release of “anomalous” ECCs.
De Dios, however, said that with the many mining projects with approved ECCs the MGB 7 has seen, not one ECC looked suspicious.
Review
“Since we do not issue the ECCs, once the EMB releases the ECCs for approved mining projects, we have to review and evaluate all the documents. But so far, there really have been no problems,” de Dios said.
There have also been no complaints about previously approved mining projects, he said.
“In cases there are complaints, we will forward the complaints to the EMB for fines,” de Dios said.
De Dios declined to comment on the issue of Arranguez and Empleo’s reassignment, saying only that it is the “prerogative of the secretary.”
An environmental lawyer, meanwhile, called on politicians to put the environment ahead of political interests.
In a text message to Sun.Star Cebu, lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said, “The strong reaction of the politicos to Arranguez and Empleo’s relief is an affirmation that environment protection is only second fiddle to their political agenda, without accountability at that.”
Reps. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district), Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) and Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th district) as well as Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong opposed the relief of the officials on the ground that this was done without affording them due process.
Devolve
“DENR has lost credibility as an institution. It’s about time DENR is abolished and environmental protection be completely devolved to local government units (LGUs), where people can make the leaders accountable through election and recall,” Ramos said.
In Bantayan Island, two municipal mayors yesterday voiced their concern over the recent filing of a civil suit by environmentalists asking the court to suspend, cancel or revoke all ECCs and special permits issued by EMB 7 for the construction and operation of swimming pools in the island.
Bantayan Mayor Geralyn Escario and Madridejos Mayor Salvador dela Fuente said this might discourage investors from doing business in the island.
Petitioners, led by environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa, filed a civil suit against the DENR, its sub-agencies, officials and employees over their alleged issuance of “anomalous” ECCs.
The petitioners want the court to stop the DENR from issuing ECCs anywhere inside the Bantayan Group of Islands until it comes up with a management plan to protect the island group’s biodiversity and ecology.
Escario demanded that the petitioners clarify the coverage of the ECC they want suspended.
Poultry and piggery operators planning to do business in the island are required to secure an ECC before a mayor’s permit is issued to them, Escario said.
Escario said businessmen might be discouraged from investing in the island for fear they will not be issued an ECC.
Dela Fuente shared Escario’s concern, saying businessmen might become reluctant to invest in the island. (EPB/JGA/GMD)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (October 15, 2008 issue)
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