MANILA, Philippines - Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza yesterday said he is open to withdrawing the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) he issued for the construction of a new landfill in San Mateo, Rizal if it will be proven that there was “misrepresentation” on its location.
“It will be immaterial whether or not they already finished construction. If it’s really proven that it was put up in a wrong place, I will not hesitate, I will recall its ECC,” Atienza said in an interview.
This, as Atienza said he granted the ECC based on official findings and recommendations of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) despite persistent claims that the new San Mateo landfill was actually put up in the “wrong location.”
Earlier, Atienza had said an EMB investigation refuted the allegation that the new landfill is located within a watershed.
He added that the 19-hectare landfill project is “properly and accurately located” in Barangay Pintong Bukawe.
Residents and environmentalists, however, insisted that the new landfill was actually constructed at the boundary of Barangays Maly and Guinayang, as shown in the San Mateo zoning map.
A certification from San Mateo’s deputy provincial and municipal assessor’s office signed by Conrado DC San Andres Jr. shows that the landfill owned by the San Mateo Sanitary Landfill and Development Corp. is located in Mabilog na Bato, Barangay Guinayang.
Moreover, a certification issued by Edgar Barraca, surveys division chief of DENR Region 4-A, states that the project site “falls within Barangay Maly… as reflected in our Cadastral Map…”
Groups opposing the new landfill assert that the project poses risk to protected forests in the area, the Marikina watershed and other sources of fresh water for Metro Manila.
“I assure you I will recall the ECC for the landfill project if it is found that there really was misrepresentation in the project proponent’s application for ECC, and negligence on the part of our EMB personnel,” Atienza said.
“If there was incompetence and negligence on the part of the EMB personnel responsible for the processing of the application of the project’s ECC, then they will be dealt with accordingly, they will be punished. The proponent of the project will also be held accountable,” he added.
Atienza also said that his department never intended to violate any decision of the Supreme Court, which ruled that it is environmentally dangerous to put up a landfill in Pintong Bukawe.
In 2005, the SC ordered the old landfill of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in the area permanently closed
Atienza said he did not see such an SC decision when the EMB presented to him the ECC application for the new San Mateo landfill. He signed the ECC on Nov. 24 last year.
“We acted on the basis of official findings of our investigators and upon the official recommendations of the EMB. We did not intend to violate any SC decision kung may ganun nga at kung may qualified technical data sila (if there is any and if they have qualified technical data),” he said.
Atienza expressed his intention to finally “conclude this episode of conflicting positions” on the landfill project.
He invited residents, environmentalists and other stakeholders opposed to the landfill project to present to him their evidence, including documents and technical data on its location.
Atienza said he would tap “neutral” experts and investigators to review the technical data from the private sector and the EMB as well to come up with an impartial conclusion and resolve the “conflicting technical opinions” on the landfill site.
“I don’t want this continuing public crucifixion of the DENR na parang wala kami nagawang tama (as if we haven’t done anything good). So this has urgency. I invite them to come to me, to my office and present to me all proofs they have immediately,” Atienza said.
“If we find out that there was misrepresentation on the part of the people at the DENR-EMB then I will make them answerable. I would like to conclude this episode of conflicting positions on the new landfill project in San Mateo,” he said.
“If they (groups opposing the project) are right, then those responsible for the misrepresentation, or I can even call it fraud, will be punished. I invite them for us to sit together and talk about this issue, to resolve this issue once and for all,” he added.