Senate panel asks how reclamation projects get approved

The PRA serves as the “clearing house” of all reclamation projects in the Philippines. The DENR’s role, meanwhile, is the issuance of environmental compliance certificates . The ECC is a document that affirms a project’s compliance to environmental regulations in the country.

Because the ECC can make or break the operations of a reclamation project, it becomes a big deal on who gets to an ECC. The DENR clarified during the Senate hearing that all ECCs issued were cleared with the DENR Secretary, whether he/she signed it or not. The EMB director can sign an ECC when the secretary delegates him/her to do so.

Cuna said the practice before was that after the EMB director signed the ECC, the document was then barcoded at the Office of the Secretary.Despite the reclamation projects in Manila Bay having obtained their respective ECCs, the environmental impacts of the reclamation projects are yet to be fully grasped by the government.

But can the DENR stop the reclamation projects once the studies reveal the projects are in violation of environmental regulations? Loyzaga said suspension is not within the ambit of the DENR’s powers. The DENR is currently finalizing an agreement with scientists from the UP Marine Science Institute and the Manila Observatory to conduct the assessment.

In the hearing were Ildefonso Tranqued of the Manila Yacht Club and Esteban Peña Sy owner of Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

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