DENR admits lapses in monitoring Coron reclamation project

An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) admitted on Friday that there were lapses in monitoring the reclamation project in Coron, Palawan.

At the Laging Handa briefing, DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said the officials of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) should have been more diligent in monitoring the progress in the project area.

The DENR earlier revoked the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) of a 48-hectare reclamation project in Coron, Palawan due to a lack of permits.

“Nakikita rin namin yan na mayroon kaunting lapse doon sa part dapat nakikita ng ating CENRO or PENRO yung progress kanilang gawain doon, sa amin naman kasi once we issue the ECC dapat faithfully kinocomply ng proponent yon,” he said.

(We also saw that there was a a few lapses on the part of the CENRO or PENRO in monitoring the  progress of their project there. For us, once we issue the ECC, the proponent should comply with it.)

“Although it's hard to admit medyo nagkulang tayo sa pagtingin doon. Para kasi ang nangyari, during the pandemic, doon sila nagmadali kung saan busy tayo sa pagaddress ng COVID-19. Eto sila naman arya nang arya so hindi natin masyado nakita yung ginagawa. Nung nakita natin malaki na pala yung nirereclaim nala dyan sa Coron,” he added.

(Although it is hard to admit, we failed to fully monitor the project. What seems to have happened, during the pandemic, that's when they rushed work on the project, while we were busy addressing COVID-19. That's when they rushed things, while we couldn't keep an eye on the project. When next we checked, they had reclaimed a large area in Coron.)

Leones said the DENR issued the ECC for the project in 2007 and 2009.

“Base sa investigation, nung nagsimula sila sa reclamation parang okay pa, medyo mabagal pa... nung napansin ng investigating team pumunta doon lahat kami nagulat dahil minadali nila yung pagrereclaim,” Leones said.

(Based on our investigation, when they started the reclamation, it seemed okay, things were going slowly... But when the investigation team went there, we were all surprised because the reclamation work had rushed ahead.)

“Ang total reclamation kasi doon dapat 40 hectares. Nagulat kami. During the pandemic tingin namin sinamantala nila na magreclaim nang magreclaim. Forty hectares na base sa report ang kanilang nareclaim,” he added.

(The total area that had been reclaimed was 40 hectares. We were shocked. During the pandemic, we think they took advantage of the situation and reclaimed a huge area. Based on the report, they reclaimed at least 40 hectares.)

The DENR official said they were assessing the damage done to the coastal area and the ecosystem.

He also vowed that the developers would face charges if they violated the law.

“Tinitiyak namin under the NIPAS Law, under the Clean Water Act, titignan natin kung may pananagutan sila, kung mayroon silang violation sa mag provision ng batas na ito. Tinitiyak namin hindi lang administrative sanction ang ibibigay namin sa kanila pati criminal kung makita naming dapat sila kasuhan sa korte,” he added.

(We guarantee that, under the NIPAS Law and the Clean Water Act, we will see if they have things to answer for... if they violated provisions of the law. They will face not only administrative sanctions but also criminal charges if we see that they need to be taken to court.) — DVM, GMA News