“Ano ba talaga, humingi ng ECC exemption o pumasa sa environmental impact assessment? Hindi po pwedeng pareho, kasi yung isa dun sinungaling.”
This was the pointed question of Terry Ridon, Infrawatch PH convenor, on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ belated official statement on the controversial Manila Bay white sand project.
Contradictory statements
Ridon said prior to the DENR statement, its officials had been insisting that no environment study is needed on the ‘beach nourishment’ project, as it is a rehabilitation project
In a phone interview with Philstar.com, DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said, “It is a rehabilitation project, not a construction project. It’s only a beach nourishment [project] in which we’re beautifying it.”
READ: No environmental impact study needed on Manila ‘beach nourishment’
“Maganda siguro mag-usap usap sila sa DENR kung ano ba talaga yung paliwanag nila sa environmental permitting process ng proyekto, kasi kung ano-ano nalang yung sinasabi nila sa publiko.”
Perjury
Ridon also said other DENR officials made contradictory statements before Congress, which may subject them to perjury.
“During DENR’s budget hearing, DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said that desilting is included in the P389-Million project, in which P28-Million constituted the cost of dolomite. However, a perusal of the project’s DPWH supplemental bulletin shows no line-item relating to desilting activities, but mostly the filling of sand along the Manila Bay boardwalk. How can this not be perjury? Binobola na natin ang publiko, binobola pa natin ang Kongreso.”
Release approved environmental assessment
Ridon and environment groups had been insisting that the project should be suspended for not having the required environmental compliance certificate.
“Under DENR’s own rules an ECC is required if a project is located in an area with tourist potential and with unique historical interest. Manila Bay falls under both requirements, and thus requires an ECC. With DENR’s new statement that the project ‘passed the required environmental impact assessment’ we challenge the agency to release the documentation related to this, the project’s ECC. Otherwise, binobola lang po natin ang mga tao.”
Critics’ Manila Bay track record started way before Duterte
Ridon assailed the ‘sob story’ of the DENR asking for the critics’ bonafides on cleaning Manila Bay.
“As early as 2009, we had already been working with Tony Oposa and murdered environment journalist Gerry Ortega in visiting Manila Bay tributaries to address solid waste in esteros. As a new lawyer in 2012, we had been representing groups opposing reclamation activities in the area where the white sand is being laid. Working with Senator Cynthia Villar from 2013, reclamation activities in Manila Bay’s Las Pinas-Paranaque critical habitat area has long been indefinitely suspended. Kaya wag kayong magpaawa dyan na parang kayo lang ang nagmalasakit sa Manila Bay.”