by Myrna Velasco September
9, 2016
At least eight power
supply agreements (PSAs) will not be approved by the Energy Regulatory
Commission (ERC) for lack of environmental compliance certificates (ECCs)
for their power projects.
The ERC has announced
to the media that it resolved “to hold in abeyance the processing of
applications for approval of PSAs which have not secured the required ECCs from
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).”
ECC is a requirement
for power projects in the country seen posing risks to the environment with
their carbon footprints.
The supply contracts to
be affected include that of the Astronergy and Misamis Oriental Electric
Cooperative II; Delta P and Palawan Electric Cooperative; Cebu Electric
Cooperative and Mariveles Power Generation Corporation (MPGC); Tarlac Electric
Cooperative I and MPGC; CEBECO II and MPGC; Aurora Electric Cooperative and
MPGC; Pampanga Electric Cooperative II and MPGC; and Tarlac Electric
Cooperative I and MPGC.
ERC Chairman Jose
Vicente B. Salazar noted that they had initially concurred to the request of
DENR Secretary Gina Lopez to hold off for now the approval of supply contracts
of those power projects without yet the necessary environmental clearances.
He stressed “the ERC
fully shares DENR’s concern to ensure the protection of the environment and is
determined to help safeguard the people’s right to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accordance with the Constitution.”
While the environment
department sought for deferment of approval of power supply contracts, ERC
qualified that it only deferred those that do not have their ECCs yet.
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