DENR cancels ECCs of mining firms, property developers

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday cancelled the Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) of two property developers and four companies in line with the government's environmental crackdown.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez told reporters in a press conference that the ECCs of Century Communities Corp.'s planned housing project in the La Mesa watershed has been cancelled as the site is within a critical area.

Century Communities is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Century Properties Group Inc.

The ECC of Austral-Asia, a mining firm in Davao, was cancelled as its operations are near to the Philippine Eagles' habitat, according to Environment Undersecretary Ipat Luna.

"Severe biodiversity considerations render Austral-Asia operations untenable," Luna said.

"Biodiversity is a gift to humanity," Lopez noted.

The DENR chief or a regional executive director issues an ECC certifying a proposed project will not cause a significant negative impact on the environment.

The ECCs of three other mining companies and a resort were cancelled because their certificates have lapsed.

The DENR identified the miners as Ipilan Nickel Corp., Core Mining Corp. and Lebach Mining Corp.

The ECC of Donggwang Clark Corp.'s Sacobia Sun Valley Resort also expired and was cancelled.

Companies with ECCs have five years from the date of issuance within which to start a project or else the certificate will be cancelled, Luna said.

Lopez said the DENR has denied Egerton Gold Philippines Inc. an ECC, because its proposed large-scale mining project in Lobo, Batangas would affect marine biodiversity in the area.

Also, Benguet Mining Corp. was issued a show cause order for failing to rehabilitate an open pit mine for 25 years and its "negligence" that has led to a toxic spill which affected 1.8 kilometers of a river in the Cordillara region, the DENR chief said.

On top of Benguet Corp., 10 companies were also given show cause orders:

• Sinophil Mining and Trading Corp.

• Mindanao Portland Cement Corp./ LaFarge

• Philippine Sinter Corp.

• Century Peak Corp.

• Filipinas Systems Inc.

• Ore Asia Mining and Development Corp.

• Wan Chiong Steel Corp.

• Wellex Mining Corp.

• PhiGold Metallic Ore Inc.

• Hantex Manufacturing Corp.

The companies slapped with show cause orders have seven days to explain why their ECCs should not be cancelled and why they should not be fined administratively for failing to meet the conditions set forth in the issuanace of the the certificate

The evaluation of ECCs is separate from the recently concluded audit of mining operations, after which the DENR recommended the suspension of 20 mining operations on top of the 10 others that were earlier suspended by the government.

"The DENR is committed to social justice, and the filter to do this is through the common good," Lopez emphasized.

The DENR chief noted that the final verdict for the 20 mining operations will be announced by the second week of January next year. — VS, GMA News