Vol. XXII, No. 15-A [ BusinessWorld Online ]
Saturday, August 16, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) under the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently suspended the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of the central transport terminal project of the Municipal government of Rodriguez in Rizal.
In a suspension order issued by the EMB dated July 18, signed by DENR-EMB regional director Allan Leuterio, it stated that the Slope Stabilization and Central Transport Terminal Project, of the municipal government, under its Mayor Pedro S. Cuerpo, failed to comply with the Presidential Decree (PD) 1586, and its implementing rules and regulations.
The PD 1586 requires that before the construction and operation of any establishment and project, the concerned officers should secure permits and clearances from the necessary environmental agencies.
In the order, DENR-EMB cited that during the pre-construction phase, no mandated permits and clearances were secured from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Rizal Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB).
The suspension order also cited that during the construction and operation phase, the local government of Rodriguez did not secure discharge permit from the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), as required by PD1586.
"In addition, Mayor Cuerpo also failed to set up an Environmental Monitoring Fund (EMF) for the monitoring of the project by the Multi-Partite Monitoring Team (MMT) involving all barangays or stakeholders affected by the project," the suspension order reads.
The transport terminal project is located at Sitio Ese, Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez town covered by ECC-2004-1139-7199 dated Dec. 21, 2004.
The DENR-EMB directed Mr. Cuerpo to implement immediate rehabilitation activities in the area to prevent environmental catastrophe.
Last March 27, an operator and driver of a bulldozer named Jimmy Valin was killed during the slope stabilization work for the project.
Mr. Cuerpo will be slapped with a fine of P50,000. He may also face suspension from the office if his municipality will not be able to immediately secure the necessary permits. The ECC of the terminal may also be permanently cancelled, which will lead to the closure order by the Rizal Provincial Government.
Mr. Cuerpo refused to give comment as of this period, saying that he have yet to receive the order, which will be served to his office by the Rizal Provincial government. — Elizabeth T. Marcelo
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