by Madelaine B. Miraflor October 25,
2016
Companies holding environmental
permits, but not engaged in the mining business, want to hold dialogues with
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure smooth
compliance with government regulations.
To ensure other business will not
suffer the “chaotic” fate of some mining companies, a number of businessmen now
want to meet with the DENR for a proper consultation before the agency starts
its “intense evaluation” of their environmental compliance certificates (ECCs).
Business groups fear that other
industries, including property, manufacturing, infrastructure, construction,
and power, could be interrupted once the DENR starts the reevaluation.
“I don’t believe the guidelines on the intense
evaluation on ECCs beside mining have been discussed with other sectors . There
should be consultation first before implementing,” Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon told Business Bulletin.
“Otherwise it would be chaotic like
what happened to the mining industry,” he added.
PCCI is currently the largest and
most influential business organization in the country,
Makati Business Club Executive
Director Peter Perfecto has the same appeal to the DENR.
“My call and appeal to the DENR is
for constructive dialogue and consultation with the business sector so that we
can hopefully agree on a mutually acceptable evaluation process so that we then
are able to help each other achieve our shared goals towards a better
Philippines,” he said in a text message.
When asked about this, Environment
Secretary Gina Lopez said she is open to have a dialogue with the companies
first but she didn’t give any other details as to when and how this will
happen.
“Yes, absolutely, just to be fair.
Yes we will talk to them so they can give their side,” Lopez told Business
Bulletin.
Lopez said the DENR will prioritize
suspending projects that have the most negative impact on the government,
putting emphasis on coal-fired power projects.
“We will do all. We will do coal because
so many people suffer from coal and saying yes to coal means getting stuck with
it for 25 years!” she further said.
The DENR will likely start the audit
of 800 existing ECCs next month.
DENR Undersecretary for Legal Ipat
Luna said on Tuesday that the agency will come up with a set of guidelines that
will set the direction for the audit on ECCs.
According to her, companies with
existing ECCs will be formally informed of the said audit once the guidelines
are issued.
When asked how long the audit will take,
Luna only said “SGL [Secretary Gina Lopez] instructed that it must be done
fast”.
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