By: Karl R. Ocampo – 05:28 AM August
12, 2017
The Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) to Ipilan
Nickel Corp. (INC) for operating without an environmental compliance
certificate (ECC).
An order dated July 21 from the
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) said the company “has been continuously
implementing its project without a valid ECC.”
INC’s ECC was canceled last December
by then Environment Secretary Regina Lopez after its failure to start its
project within the required five-year period from the issuance of the permit.
An inspection conducted by the EMB,
representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), civil
organizations and the local government showed that the company constructed a
mine yard within its mining area despite the order.
It also noted that INC’s activities
were causing the “release of pollutants brought about by the silt deposition
from the road, thus placing the environment at risk and imminent danger.”
DENR Mimaropa Regionals Director
Natividad Bernardino issued a warning that “any further actions by the INC may
be dealt with by law,” after receiving reports that the firm was building
structures in Barangay Maasin and Ipilan.
Three days after, DENR-attached
agency Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) also revoked the
Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) clearance issued to INC, saying that no
clearance should have been issued to the firm in the first place since the
areas where it operated were considered “areas of maximum protection.”
President of affiliate company
Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. Dante Bravo said in a phone interview with the
Inquirer that these allegations were “baseless,” adding that the motion for
reconsideration (MFR) for the canceled ECC was still pending.
“It (EMB) issued such CDO on the
basis of the alleged cancellation of the ECC of Ipilan, which is subject of a
pending Motion for Reconsideration. So, the ECC still stands,” Bravo claimed.
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