Vol. XXII, No. 112 [ Business World Online ]
Thursday, January 8, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
The Environment department yesterday revoked the power of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to issue environmental permits and clearances following locals’ claims of violations in the economic zone.
"The department delegated the powers to the SMBA... [but] lately, there were problems that environmental certificates were given to projects contrary to our environmental concerns," Environment Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. said in a phone interview.
A 2006 agreement with the Environment department deputized the SBMA to issue environmental certificates to companies prior to starting ventures in the free port zone.
"We have decided to take direct control in Subic instead of allowing SBMA to have sole authority over the implementation of environmental laws inside the free port zone,’’ Mr. Atienza said in a statement.
He said the SBMA has failed to secure from the department a programmatic environmental compliance certificate for the economic zone, which was due on December.
The SBMA also failed to provide the department its right to confirm all previously issued clearances and permits, and give regular monitoring reports of environmental compliance among certificate holders, which are mostly foreign investors, the department said in the statement.
Last year, Korean ship builder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. was criticized after it cut trees in an islet it had leased to build one of its facilities, while Grand Utopia, another Korean-owned company, came under fire in November because of its plan to cut 300 trees to build a $120-million casino hotel.
Mr. Atienza said SBMA should first implement environmental laws before its authority could be restored.
SBMA officials were unavailable for comment. — Neil Jerome C. Morales
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