by Tara Yap August
21, 2016
Iloilo City – The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is sending a team in
Semirara Island, Caluya town, Antique to validate the explanation of the
country’s largest coal producer on major concerns raised by DENR Secretary Gina
Lopez.
Jonathan Bulos, Western
Visayas regional director of Environmental Management Bureau, an attached
agency of DENR, confirmed the sending of the team.
The DENR Central
Office issued a show-cause order against Semirara Mining and Power Corp.
(SMPC), a subsidiary of DMCI Holdings, Inc.
SMPC was asked to
explain why its Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the EMB
should not be cancelled.
SMPC submitted a
statement to the DENR last August 16, but Bulos said the department still has
to validate the explanations.
Semirara was cited for
the reported siltation of marine areas, damage to coral life, toxic waste
contaminating the water, complaints by seaweed farmers, hazardous working
conditions, displacement of local residents, and land disputes.
Nine miners were also
killed in July, 2015 when one of Semirara’s open coalmine pits collapsed.
Bulos suggested to
DENR Central Office that representatives from DENR-6’s Western Visayas offices
join the team
No comments:
Post a Comment