MING-MORI Development Corp. (MMDC), the private firm behind the Minglanilla Ming Mori Industrial Park Project, is awaiting an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“We have all the endorsements. Even PRA (Philippine Reclamations Authority) wants us to do it already,” said Ming-Mori chairman Jose Soberano III.
However, he said they cannot start the construction of the 100-hectare development without the ECC from DENR. Soberano said they sent their application for the ECC over a year ago.
“It’s hard to speculate, it’s very difficult to say at this time,” said Soberano, noting Environment Secretary Gina Lopez’s tight environment regulations, if the ECC will be issued this year.
In December, the PRA and the municipality of Minglanilla signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). With the MOU, PRA formally received and reviewed the project requirements, which include a detailed feasibility study, environmental impact study, and engineering geological and geohazard assessment.
Nevertheless, Soberano said the infrastructure thrust of the Duterte administation will make it supportive to reclamation projects.
“I am hearing also that President Duterte is fully suporting reclamation projects because of the infrastructure build up,” he told reporters.