FOLLOWING the Environmental Management Bureau-Cordillera filing a violation of environmental compliance certificate (ECC), the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation were required to replace the trees cut with 100 pine seedling.

"At least 1,100 seedlings of the same species must be planted not later than June 2018. The company are to submit the map of where the trees are to be planted and commit to prevent the occurrence of the same incident in the future," said EMB-CAR Chief of Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division Engineer Alex Luiz.

Luiz graced the provincial board meeting on Monday together with Community Environmental and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) Buguias officer Rabindranath Quilala and Virgie Jimenez of MGB-CAR to discuss on the alleged tree-cutting and bulldozing activity at Sitio Aptot, Barangay Paco, Mankayan, Benguet.

Ruiz said under the penal provision, a maximum penalty of P50,000 is set for non-compliance of the ECC.

It can be recalled DENR and Cenro Buguias filed a case against the company and the bulldozer operator Andrew Padtoc for violating Presidential Decree 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines, particularly section 77 and 78.

With the mining firm filing their counter affidavit, DENR and Cenro Buguias for the resolution of the prosecutor to determine the probable cost as far as PD 705 is concerned.

A technical conference was held December 11 with EMB – CAR regional director Reynaldo Digamo requiring a certification from MGB the felled trees were planted by the company.