BAGUIO City Representative Nicasio Aliping Jr. continues to deny involvement in the road construction in Mt. Kabuyao in Sto. Tomas.
After two postponements, the technical meeting pushed through, said Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau information officer Susan Nisperos-Nool.
The technical conference finally took place with the presence of the lawmaker and a representative from RUA construction.
The meeting called for the discussion of the violation of the PD 1586 or the Environmental Impact Statement System.
Nool shared although Aliping claimed he does not have involvement in the road construction, he admitted to having an excavation project at his property near the road of the proposed eco-park, which operated without an Environmental Compliance Certificate.
The site in Mt. Kabuyao is an identified Environmentally Critical Area (ECA).
Section 4 of Environment Impact Statement System provides "no person, partnership or corporation or government project shall undertake or operate any in part such declared ECP or project within an ECA without first securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate."
Nool stressed any earth moving activity in an ECA requires an ECC.
This has resulted in Aliping being penalized the maximum P50,000 for failing to secure an ECC before the excavation.
During the technical conference Aliping committed to submit within 15 working days a consolidated position paper with the alleged three developers of the road construction in Kabuyao namely: Goldrich Construction, RUA Construction and Development Corp. and BLC Construction and Aggregates.
Aliping also signed a commitment stating he has to perform mitigating measures in the area to prevent further destruction.
Likewise, it was agreed the excavation will not pursue until all issues are addressed and all requirements complied with.
Nool clarified Aliping may apply for an ECC and undergo the EIA process should he decide to pursue his eco-park project, but stressed it does not guarantee approval.
“The submission of documents will determine the issuance of ECC,”she said adding it still has to undergo the proper process.
Aliping requested a joint ocular inspection in Kabuyao on July 17 calling concerned parties in abid to show mitigating measures done and to take note of the other factors, which may also have contributed to the destruction of the water sources.
Nool noted the issue has to be treated in a holistic process.
Aliping and the three contractors were sued for violation of the Clean Water Act and the Philippine Forestry Code filed by the Baguio Water District and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, respectively.