Monday, December 01, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]
ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza on Thursday said the department would not allow reckless cutting of trees to make way for the $120-million hotel-casino resort project at the Subic Bay Freeport.
Atienza said that the Department of Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) would not allow wanton cutting of trees by the South Korean Company just to make way for the $120-million hotel-casino.
“If they want, they can transfer the trees, but they cannot cut trees. They are not allowed to kill trees,” Atienza said in a press conference.
Atienza said he has not received any report from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) but a text message from architect Jun Palafox informed him that the hotel-casino project would be cutting down trees in the Freeport.
Reports said architect Jun Palafox was initially tapped to design the project but backed out when he found out that the management “intended to cut the trees.” SBMA has denied these reports in media.
The Grand Utopia project, which will be known as the Ocean 9 Casino and Hotel Resort will be a 15-story hotel with an area of 9,173 square meters.-- Ira Karen Apanay
