ENVIRONMENTALISTS in Davao City are urging retired General Roy Cimatu, now Environment and Natural Resources secretary, to prioritize the proper implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the country.
EIA was established under Presidential Decree 1586 on June 11, 1978, stating that no person, partnership or corporation shall undertake or operate any such declared environmentally critical project or area without first securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Philippine Miserior Partnership Inc.-Davao Region Cluster (PMPI-DRC) officer lawyer Jan Genciano said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at The Annex of SM City Davao last June 5 that many companies in the country still have not complied with an ECC even when their businesses are already operating.
Genciano said companies have to prioritize the compliance of an ECC as it would protect the environment through an assessment and consultation on those company projects which are likely to have significant environmental effects.
"Without an ECC, companies will become indifferent to the environment preservation and protection," Genciano said.
Although there are other many environmental priorities, Genciano said Cimatu should start with strengthening the EIA in the country since private businesses mostly contribute to the destructions in the environment.
Interface Development Interventions (Idis) acting director Chinkie Peliño-Golle, in an interview, said she expects Cimatu to become assertive in enforcing environmental laws.
"We know that he is a retired military general, thus, he has to be aggressive in implementing what should be done in our environment," Golle said. She added that Cimatu should also reprimand those who violate environmental laws, especially those who have not yet complied the ECC.
Meanwhile, both Golle and Genciano expressed their support to DENR Secretary Cimatu as he takes charge in promoting and regulating environmental protection in the Philippines.
"Knowing that President Rodrigo Duterte promotes environmental conservation, we in the environment sector have high hopes that change is really coming for us," Golle said.