NEWSFLASH

CAVITE FOLK UNITE VS. LANDFILL

Manila, June 8, 2000 - Cavite residents are up in arms over the prospects of becoming Metro-Manila’s dumpsite.

The Manila Times today published an extensive report on the issue:

The Alyansa Kontra Magallanes Landfill, composed of various Cavite NGOs and religious groups, have sought the investigation of Environment Secretary Antonio Cerilles for issuing on June 1 an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the operation of the proposed 217-hectare sanitary landfill in Magallanes, Cavite.

Restive Cavitenos also picketed on Monday the office of Flagship Chairman Robert Aventajado, urging him to make good his avowal before a Senate hearing that “no landfill should be located within a watershed.”

In a press statement, DENR said the Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee had recommended the issuance of the ECC to proponent Eurasian Company for Waste and Environment Services Corp. (ECWESC) after determining that the site was not a declared watershed and the P8.5-billion project was included in the draft of the comprehensive land use plan and zoning ordinance of the municipality of Magallanes.

But the protesting residents also urged the Senate committees on Environment and Natural Resources and Blue Ribbon to look into the possible collusion, if not conspiracy, among officials that had a hand in the issuance of the ECC. They sought a probe on the EIARC members, some of whom were reportedly facing graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.

EIARC was composed of chairman engineer Pedro Virayan and members Engineer Miguel Bisner, Engineer Gerardo Mogol of the Department of Health, Dr. Nestor Castro of the University of the Philippines, Dr. Rosario Pascasio of Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, and Dr. Edqino Fernando.

In its Feb. 14, 2000 memorandum, the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) of the DENR said the proposed site was not in its records as a critical or declared watershed.

Regional Executive Director Vicente S. Paragas of DENR-4 told THE

MANILA TIMES last week that the whole of the Philippines was a watershed, but only those declared by law as watershed fell under the purview of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System.

The EIS system was established under Presidential Decree No. 1586 in 1979 and has since undergone several refinements and revisions. It was intended to be an “effective planning, management, and regulatory tool in addressing environmental problems of the country.”

Paragas also said that his office confirmed that the area was within alienable and disposable land under Project No. PD 24 per Land Classification Map 3091 of Forestry Administrative Order 4-1742 dated June 21, 1983.

Engineer Viray also cited 1991 municipal ordinance (SB 1-S-91) converting Barangay Caluanganincluding project site in sitio Lobo-Lobointo an industrial zone, and a 1997 provincial resolution (SPR 167-S-97) authorizing the mayor of Magallanes to enter into a contract or memorandum of agreement with ECWES to establish a landfill management program in the town.

But a DENR press statement received by THE TIMES on Tuesday explaining the issuance of ECC was silent on the social acceptability component of the project.

According to the DENR’s EIS System Manual, “The essence of social acceptability is that the public is convinced that the overall consequence of the project is beneficial to most people, directly or indirectly, affected by it. Conflicts between and among concerned parties should therefore be resolved and negotiated until such time that all are convinced of the merits of the project. Then and only then can it be said that a project has obtained social acceptability.”

Among the proofs of social acceptability listed in the manual were endorsement letters from the local NGOs (non-governmental organization) and POs (people’s organization) and a memorandum of understanding between the disputing or conflicting parties.

Considering the furor raised by NGOs over the issuance of the ECC, it was apparent that the project’s social acceptability has not been attained.

Edwina Mendoza, town mayor of Naic, expressed the surprise of her life upon learning of the issuance of ECC, questioning how the committee arrived at such a decision.

“Have they really deliberated intelligently and considered all factors in arriving at their decision?” asked the lady mayor who has stood by the Alyansa in its fight against the project proponents.

“We cannot allow people who have no interest at all at heart in the welfare of Cavitenos to decide for us,” said Alyansa spokesman Fr. Cesar Reyes.

In a press statement, Cavite Governor Bong Revilla said farmers, fishermen, housewives, businessmen, and plain citizens have been calling up his to register their stand against the issuance of ECC.

Among them was Barangay Captain Juanito M. Alcedo of Barangay Amuyong, Alfonso, Cavite, saying that the project would adversely affect the residents’ health and the province’s agriculture and tourism, among others.

Another caller named Cecilia Alimagno of Magallanes town expressed fears that the landfill project would serve as the “fuse to poverty” of Cavitenos and even residents of neighboring Batangas province.