Sunday, April 13, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
Two lawmakers from Central Luzon have defended the construction of two multi-level apartment buildings at the Subic Freeport by Korean construction firm Hanjin, saying those opposing the project should have checked their facts first before raising a howl.
“The very shrill protests of non-Subic residents over the Hanjin condos border on OA (overacting). From their statements, one would get the impression that the project would cause the end of civilization,” said Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay.
Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia supported her, arguing that even if the two buildings were located in the middle of a rainforest, the more important thing is that the foreign firm had “poured in P200 billion worth of investments” – or one-fifth of the national budget.
He said three hectares of the land have in fact been cleared for the “housing needs” of Hanjin, which would create 20,000 jobs for Filipinos.
“It would have been a fair trade,” he said. “Would it have been a reasonable barter for a mega-shipbuilding complex in a land constantly bypassed by foreign investors? My answer is yes.”
“We have to moderate our rage and look at the big picture – and the latter includes a dirty Manila Bay and the dirty Manila skyline which day in and day out are seen by occupants of Senate offices,” he added.
In a statement, the two said the Subic controversy or “environmental hysteria” is actually “one of the best examples of how politics have been ruining the country, particularly the economy.”
Magsaysay said the controversy, which may lead to the loss of 20,000 potential jobs because of an “exaggerated environmental hysteria,” is a major turn-off for investors.
“One public official even went overboard with his doomsday scenario and made a conclusion which no scientist and not even Al Gore has reached: that the project would hasten global warming, as if two buildings in a small patch of logged-over land have stretched wide the ozone hole,” she said.
“My appeal to them is to investigate first before they speak. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Administration (SBMA) administrator has repeatedly said the site is not within the zero development zone, that roads to the area were previously built, that as early as 1966 it was cleared of trees and its soil graded by the US Navy for the purpose of using it as an ammunition dump, that the site falls within the area zoned for low-impact projects, and in fact several structures have been built there,” Magsaysay added.
She said politicians and environmentalists who are raising a howl over the construction project did not even bother to research their facts first before throwing accusations at the project proponents and investors.
“The image that has been seared in the public mind is that a whole forest was sacrificed when in fact this was not the case. They claim that the development encompasses a big area when it sits on just three hectares, which is smaller than the Batasan complex,” she said.
“In contrast, three hectares of forest is what we lose to kaingin every 100 minutes in our country today. This and other far serious environmental crimes should be the main object of our rage,” she added.
Housing project is non-issue
SBMA administrator Armand Arreza, on the other hand, branded as a “non issue” the controversial Subic apartment complex, saying the US Navy cleared the site as early as 1968.
He said the area, located in the Cubi–Triboa center, was the nerve center of the US naval forces at the height of the Vietnam War and that the US military forces used it to stockpile bombs and missiles used in their bombing runs during the Vietnam War.
He said the construction of the two condominium units, which was already 95 percent complete, was in compliance to all environment and zoning laws in the freeport.
“It sends the wrong signal to foreign investors, we must comply with our commitment with investors,” Arreza said.
SBMA senior deputy administrator Ramon Agregado, for his part, said amenities like stores are built into the plan for the Hanjin apartment project, but denied that karaoke bars and nightclubs will be allowed.
Agregado also ruled out any move to suspend the construction of the buildings, saying there is no violation as far as the ongoing work is concerned.
Arreza appealed to critics to first verify their facts before making any allegations.
He said the SBMA is willing to answer all the charges being raised, including the visit of lawmakers who want to have an ocular inspection in the area.
He said the SBMA, in a memorandum of agreement signed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2006, supervises the issuance of environmental clearance certificates for “critical” non-environmental projects.
Arreza said Hanjin has been required to plant 700 trees to replace the 28 camachile, guava and jackfruit trees at the project site that it uprooted.
He added that the Korean company has assured authorities that the 13,357-square-meter apartment complex will be managed in conformity with environmental laws.
“We cannot, and we won’t put the Subic environment at risk because that’s what makes it unique,” he said.
Earlier, the Korean Chamber of Commerce-Philippines (KCCP) issued a statement of concern over the negative media coverage of the apartment project, saying the issues raised in the media amounted to a “trial by publicity.”
KCCP president Jae Jang said the condominium buildings are “aboveboard and legal.”
The KCCP added that the negative issues raised against Hanjin could discourage Korean and other foreign investors, despite efforts by the Philippine government to attract more foreign direct investments in the country.
Senators want inquiry
Meanwhile, more senators now want to look into the Subic Bay Freeport to check on its rainforests and other complaints against the working conditions of employees in the area.
Sen. Pia Cayetano, who chairs the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, will lead an on-site inquiry into the controversial construction on April 25.
Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Loren Legarda had earlier called for an investigation into the issue.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the Subic Bay Freeport was not a republic unto itself and the SBMA should not sound as if the country’s laws do not apply to them.
Pimentel said the SBMA’s “cockiness” on the issue may have been due to Malacañang’s support for the projects of Hanjin in the country.
He added he would support a Senate inquiry into the status of our remaining forests, including the Subic Bay protected area.
Sen. Richard Gordon, for his part, said he was not in favor of investigating the construction of condominiums since no environmental laws were violated in connection with the project. – Delon Porcalla, Perseus Echeminada, Bebot Sison and Aurea Calica
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