Cimatu returns power to approve ECC’s to DENR regional directors

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has suspended his predecessor Gina Lopez's previous order centralizing the issuance of environmental compliance certificates (ECC).

The move is supposedly In line with the Duterte administration's initiative to fast-track the issuance of government permits.

Cimatu issued Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 2017-18 on July 3.

It will take effect 15 days after it was published in broadsheets on July 5.

"In the interest of service and in order to expedite the issuance of ECC in the regional level... DENR Administrative Order No. 2017-04 is hereby suspended indefinitely," Cimatu said in his order.

An ECC is a document issued by the DENR secretary or the regional executive director to certify that a proposed project will not cause a significant negative impact on the environment.

The certificate contains specific measures and conditions that must be met by the proponent before and during the operation of a project.

In some cases, conditions are listed to be performed during the project's closing phase to lessen the potential impact on the environmental.

On February 15, then environment chief Lopez issued DENR Administrative Order 2017-04, which limited the authority to approve ECCs for both environmentally critical projects (ECPs) and non-ECPs only to the DENR secretary upon the recommendation the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) director and undersecretary for legal affairs.

In his order, Cimatu effectively reinstated the authority to grant ECCs to EMB regional directors.

The environment chief noted that the new order is "consistent with the directive of the President to fast-track issuance of government permits and licenses."

Sought for comment, Lopez said she understands why Cimatu issued the said order.

However, Lopez said decentralization only worked "if the people on the ground share the same passion and commitment to the environment as is necessary."

"The welfare of the Filipino is not for sale. I hope in doing this, he can implement appropriate checks and balances to make sure the public good will always, always prevail," Lopez told GMA News Online. —NB, GMA News