Naga mayor slams DENR

CEBU, Philippines -  Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong has criticized the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7 (DENR) for issuing environment compliance certificates (ECC) to Kepco-Salcon Power Corp. (KSPC) without the support of a city council-approved resolution.

In his letter dated March 7 addressed to Alan Arranguez, acting Environment Management regional director, Chiong said that they, including the 28 barangays in Naga City, manifested "deep consternation" over the environmental department's internal policy.

Chiong was referring to the department's memorandum circular No. 001which states that an LGU endorsement is "not a mandatory requirement" for ECC application and amendments.

In the letter, Chiong said, quoting Section 26 (Duty of National Government Agencies in the Maintenance of Ecological Balance) of the Local Government Code) that "It shall be the duty of every national agency… involved in the planning and implementation of any project or program that may cause pollution, climatic change, depletion of non-renewable resources, loss of crop land, rangeland, or forest cover, and extinction of animal or plant species, to consult with the local government units, nongovernmental organizations, and other sectors concerned and explain the goals and objectives of the project or program, its impact upon the people and the community in terms of environmental or ecological balance, and the measures that will be undertaken to prevent or minimize the adverse effects thereof."

The mayor also said, also quoting the same law (Section 27. Prior Consultations Required), that "no project or program shall be implemented by government authorities unless the consultations mentioned in Sections 2 (c) and 26 hereof are complied with, and prior approval of the sanggunian concerned is obtained…"

He said it is "clear" that consultations with the LGU and the people "should be undertaken in order to prevent or minimize adverse effect" of the project that is applying for an ECC.

The mayor wrote a letter to Arranguez after resenting the latter's reply on his queries regarding the spread of coal dust particles from the KSPC plant in barangay Cogon last month.

In Arranguez' letter to Chiong dated February 28, he said there are times when a city council resolution is not necessary for an issuance of ECC.

An ECC is a prerequisite to all businesses before these are given a mayor's permit.

Chiong had sought the DENR's attention last month after several residents had complained about the risk involved concerning the dust particles coming from KPSC plant.

KPSC reportedly started operation late last year.

"We would like to request your good office that endorsement in the form of a Sanggunian resolution should be required from this local government unit before your issuance of an ECC... so that harmony and good governance will prevail in our land," Chiong said. (FREEMAN)