A LOT of vital government projects located within the protected areas “have been either halted or significantly delayed and are unbidded to date until this time due to the protracted process of acquiring an ECC,” thus said provincial Board Member Nathaniel O. Binlod in his speech during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session last week.
This came as so many government projects have not yet proceeded because they have pending the ECC issuance, he said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) allegedly stopped these projects since they have not secured first the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), a prerequisite in constructing establishments, especially those located in protected areas.
The report said that the multi-million Loboc river flood control project has been halted for lack of ECC.
Binlod cried foul in the difficulty and lengthy process of acquiring ECC from DENR, “a challenge that has been exacerbated by the issue surrounding Captain’s Peak in Canmano in Sagbayan town.”
The required ECC of any establishment in protected areas is strictly enforced following the suspension of 69 officials for six months without pay in connection with the Captain’s Peak resort fiasco.
“While its intention is to safeguard our environment, the process to acquire this certificate has become increasingly arduous and time-consuming, affecting a wide range of government projects including but not limited to tourism infrastructure, public school buildings, private infrastructure projects and more importantly, other essential government projects and establishments.”
He said the delay in ECC’s issuance has led to financial grants being returned and this halts the project and a loss of opportunity for our province to benefit from these funds.
In Batuan town, Mayor Dodo Jumawid said that based on the report of barangay officials, most of the stores, including sari-sari stores and vulcanizing shops, in this town have been warned of having no ECC or be fined.
This concern has been referred to the public works and environment protection committees of the provincial board. (rvo)
