DENR orders Semirara to justify its environmental certificate

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered Semirara Mining and Power Corp. to explain within a week why its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) should not be revoked.

In a regulatory filing released on Tuesday, Semirara said it received on Monday a show cause letter directing the company to explain within seven days why its ECC should not be revoked.

A DENR fact-finding field visit in Caluya, Antique  on May 23 to 27 found that the company's Molave Coal Mine Expansion Project has not complied with one of the conditions set forth under its ECC:

“On Condition No. 1.a: No proper stockpiling and disposal of the materials scooped out from the settling ponds, and other solid wastes impermanent, stabilized areas to avoid pollution of any water body and drainage systems, and maintaining them in safe and non-polluting conditions.”

GMA News Online has sought the side of Semirara on the matter, but officials were not answering calls and text messages.

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday also ordered Semirara to explain within 48 hours the collateral issues raised against the company.

The issues include toxic waste, sulfur content of coal produced, adverse effect on the lives of seaweed farmers, 47-percent poverty rate in Semirara, and land-grabbing.

The DENR last week said it was reevaluating the ECC obtained by Semirara, noting that the company must comply with all the requirements of an Environmental Impact System.

Semirara has seven wholly-owned subsidiaries: SEM-Calaca Power Corporation, SEM-Cal Industrial Park Developers Inc., Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation, Semirara Claystone Inc., Semirara Energy Utilities Inc., SEM-Balayan Power Generation Corporation, and St. Raphael Power Generation Corporation. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News