Manila Bay white sand project exempted from impact assessment, says EMB

A certificate of non-coverage for environmental impact assessment has been issued for the Manila Bay white sand project, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau said on Wednesday.

In a virtual forum, DENR-EMB director William Cuñado said the certificate of non-coverage was issued by the former EMB Metodio Turbella.

The said certificate states that the project is not covered by the Philippine Environmental Impact System and thus not required to secure an environmental compliance certificate prior to the commencement of activities.

“The previous director issued a certificate of non-coverage for this project already,” Cuñado said.

“Enhancement project ito so there’s no need for an environmental impact study because this is a nourishment, enhancement of the area… So it falls on the enhancement project,” he added.

However, in a statement on Tuesday, the DENR said “the project likewise passed the required environmental impact assessment.”

Asked whether DENR’s statement was incorrect, Cuñada said: “Kasi that is an enhancement project so what I’m saying is when you’re in an enhancement project, it falls on enhancement so improving the quality of the project using the enhancement component, which for this one is the nourishment project.”

Earlier, environmentalists and fishers' groups have criticized the project, calling it an artificial rehabilitation and a waste of money. -NB, GMA News