Korean firm, mayor's woes over Taal spa continue

While it was elated now that the planned Taal Volcano resort spa has been halted, a militant group on Friday warned that the mayor of Talisay town in Batangas as well as the Korean project proponent were not yet off the hook. Radio station dzBB reported that fisherman's group Pamalakaya would pursue charges against Talisay Mayor Florencio Manimtim, members of the Philippine National Police Regional Mobile Group and the military for allegedly harassing local folk while construction was underway. Manimtim drew flak from church leaders and residents of the Taal Volcano, a protected area that was eventually titled to land owners, for approving the construction of the six-hectare, P72-million resort facility. Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chair, told dzBB radio that his group would not relent in pursuing the case even though Taal residents were happy with the revocation of the project's environmental clearance certificate (ECC). He added that it would seek financial compensation from Korean firm Jung Ang Interventures over the environmental damage the latter wrought on Taal Volcano. Pamalakaya said it would conduct a study in the area to determine the amount Jung Ang should be made to pay. Jung Ang had already leveled parts of the volcano for paths up the volcano crater when the controversy broke out. Last Thursday, Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes announced the cancellation of the ECC, saying Jung Ang failed to comply with government requirements within the one-week deadline. "They (Korean firm) have been less transparent in their ECC application, have failed to submit the necessary and appropriate clearances and permits, which they have supposedly secured by this time from concerned government agencies for the construction of their resort spa project," Reyes then said. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) noted that Jung Ang failed to secure permits or clearances from water regulation and tourism officials as well as state volcanologists, among others. Meanwhile, Pamalakaya said it will urge Congress to probe how Jung Ang was allowed to begin construction at Taal Volcano. - GMANews.TV