The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Luzon has reported that two areas within the Petron Bataan Refinery (PBR) complex in Limay town are no longer used as bottom ash dump facilities.

In its latest inspection report, the EMB said that both the temporary ash disposal facilities of PLT Cove and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) are now covered with soil, compacted and sprinkled with water to prevent ash dispersion and deposition to nearby communities.

The report even noted that the PLT Cove area had already been planted with frog grass.

The EMB is a line bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The result of the EMB inspection was revealed during a recent meeting by the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) formed by the provincial government, held in Balanga City.

In that meeting, Petron disclosed that so far around 3,550 metric tons (MT) of ash have been hauled out and 7,950 MT have been treated.

It said that newly generated ashes are being washed to reduce its corrosivity, after which sampling of the washed bottom ash is undertaken. The MMT only allows the ashes to be hauled out when sampling pass the DENR standard for corrosivity.

Treated ash is transported to SMC subsidiary Northern Cement Consolidated in Pangasinan, where it will be used as material for cement manufacturing.

At the same time, Petron revealed its remediation and rehabilitation plans for the PLT Cove area, mitigation measures for odor nuisance, and relocation of affected families.

Aside from the EMB Central Luzon and company representatives, the MMT meeting was attended by Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia, Congressman Enrique Garcia, a representative from the Department of Health-Region 3, and officers of the Limay Concerned Citizens Inc. or LiCCI.

The provincial government gave assurance that there would be available housing for 250 affected families within the next three to five months. Governor Garcia said informal settlers within the SMC's buffer zone would be given priority.

The establishment of Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF) was also discussed during the meeting. The fund would be used for epidemiological study or health assessment that will be done in affected communities.

The cost of the study would be sourced from the EGF of Petron and SMC, pursuant to existing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) rules and regulations.

The EMB Central Luzon, on the other hand, will continue to assess the environmental quality on affected communities in Limay.

According to EMB Acting Director Jacqueline Caancan, the result of the assessment will help determine effectiveness of anti-pollution interventions already done in the area and ensure compliance to environmental policies by those concerned.

Meanwhile, a series of tests have been done to ensure that the air and water in the area are safe.

A 24-hour monitoring for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was conducted from January 26 to 27. The sampling was conducted by CRL Environmental Services and was witnessed by the MMT members, LiCCI representatives and concerned local government units.

Results of the said sampling showed that VOCs and H2S were not detected at the sampling stations identified by the LiCCI.

The coastal water along PLT Cove was found as not contaminated with substances that could be attributed directly to Petron's dumping of bottom ash in the area, the results further showed.

The result of the sampling conducted at the monitoring well, which was installed to monitor the water quality in the area, was within acceptable pH levels.

In January, a series of ambient air sampling for total suspended particulates and sulfur dioxide at PEX Site and Carbon Site at the Lamao Port was conducted by EMB Region 3 personnel. The results were all within the National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values. #

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Published: 21 February 2017

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assured that there's going to be no let-up in the campaign to clear Laguna de Bay of all illegal structures even if it would turn to a loss of P50 million in revenues for the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

DENR Undersecretary and National Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force (NAECTF) head Art Valdez, who is in charge of the Laguna Lake clearing operations together with LLDA General Manager Jaime Medina, said the DENR would be willing to provide technical support to the LLDA to make up for the projected revenue losses so as the latter can continue to fulfill its mandate.

“The dismantling operation remains a priority in NAECTF's order of battle, and the DENR support, which is meant to boost the law enforcement capabilities of LLDA, will increasingly become stronger in the days to come,” Valdez said.

Last January 26, the DENR and the LLDA started a massive operation to clear Laguna Lake of illegal structures, including large fish pens and cages, on orders of DENR Secretary Gina Lopez and President Rodrigo Duterte.

The dismantling operation came more than one month after the DENR declared a one-year moratorium on the issuance of permits for fish pens and cages in Laguna Lake starting January this year. This means that all structures within the lake are now considered illegal.

The moratorium is expected to result in revenue losses for the LLDA to the tune of P50 million. The agency usually collects fees and charges from fishpen operators.

The DENR will also help the LLDA in the rehabilitation of the entire lake, which includes addressing illegal dumping of household, industrial and chemical wastes, he added.

During the resumption of the dismantling operation on Feb. 14, the demolition team dismantled two fishpens covering a total of 76 hectares in Laguna Lake. The structures are owned by Seven Eleven Fishing Corp. and Habagat Multipurpose Cooperative, both in Binangonan town in Rizal province.

Backed by operatives from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police, the demolition team was joined by several volunteers from the Diocese of San Pablo City in Laguna led by Fr. JL Calampiano, head of the Diocese’s Ministry on Ecology.

The operation also targeted a newly-constructed 200 sq. meter-bunkhouse near the HMC fishpen.

“This is an open defiance to the order,” Media said, referring to the newly-constructed bunkhouse, which based on LLDA monitoring reports, the structure was built only in the early part of February.

Medina also indicated his plan to raise the number of LLDA field monitoring officers from six to 12, noting that the lake is divided into six sectors with only one monitoring officer per sector.

Zone A consists of Muntinlupa City and Taguig City in Metro Manila, and San Pedro in Laguna; Zone B includes Binan, Sta. Rosa, Calamba Los Banos and Pila, also in Laguna; Zone C - Sta. Cruz, Pakil, Kalayaan, also in Laguna; Zone D covers Cardona Main, Tanay, Pililia Jala-Jala in Rizal; Zone E covers Binangonan main; and Zone F - Binangonan, Cardona and Talim Island in Rizal.

The operation is in line with President Duterte's directive in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) to dismantle big fish pens and cases in Laguna Lake to allow small fishermen to gain access to traditional fishing grounds.

The DENR and LLDA plan to finish the clearing operation by the middle of the year, in time for the President's second SONA in July. ###

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Published: 20 February 2017

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said foreign investors who put premium on local communities and the environment are "welcome to invest" in the Philippines.

The environment chief was reacting to statements from the international and local business communities that her decision to close down 23 mining firms found to have committed serious environmental violations worries some foreign investors.

According to reports, some investors are now "worried on putting their money on business ventures, as they might lose their investments overnight."

But Lopez said foreign investors should not be worried if their businesses do not cause environmental degradation and suffering in areas they operate.

"If they invest and rape the country, I prefer that they go away," Lopez said.

She added: "We want investments that will help us, like investments in our biodiversity, investments which will pay our people well. We welcome investments in area development where they can make money, but they are helping everybody else improve also."

As for mining, Lopez said studies have shown that 82 percent of the net revenue goes to the investor and 95 percent of which goes out of local economy.

This is despite the fact that mining activities leave massive and long-lasting damage to the environment and communities, she added.

Last Tuesday, Lopez announced that 75 mineral production sharing agreements or MPSAs for mining sites within or near watersheds face cancellation.

She said that if the government allows mining in a watershed area, rehabilitating it will be almost impossible. ###

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Published: 19 February 2017

As part of her commitment to keep the country's watersheds off-limits to destructive mining, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez announced on Tuesday that 75 mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA) for mining sites that are within watershed areas face cancellation.

Lopez said show cause orders have been issued to mining companies to allow them to explain why their MPSAs should not be cancelled for threatening watersheds, which are a major source of drinking and recreational water for many communities.

The said MPSA holders have 7 days from receipt of the show cause orders to reply, she said.

Last week, Lopez ordered the closure of 23 mining operations found to have committed serious environmental violations during the industry-wide audit conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) since July last year. Fifteen of these mines are operating within watershed areas.

Of the 75 MPSAs issued show cause orders, 27 are in Luzon, 11 in Visayas and 37 in Mindanao.

Lopez was quick to clarify that the impending cancellation would not result in job losses because "these are non-operating mines."

Lopez said her decision is backed by the provisions of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which gives the DENR the power to regulate and make decisions pertaining to watersheds.

"This is to show you that whatever dictum I make on watersheds, this is in fact protected by the Mining Act of 1995 which says that we must enhance national growth in a way that effectively safeguards the environment and protects the right of the affected communities," Lopez explained.

The law, she added, provides that the DENR "shall adhere to a sustainable development principle which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs with the view of improving the total quality of life both now and in the future."

The environment chief also cited the Forestry Code, which mandates that surface mined areas should be brought back to its natural state.

Citing studies by scientists, Lopez said that rehabilitating mined out areas in watersheds to near its original state is almost impossible, thus placing watersheds in danger and the water in the area at risk.

A watershed is an area of land that drains rainwater to streams, rivers, lakes and other reservoirs. Water that flows through these tributaries is used to irrigate farms, supply drinking water to the population and other industries.

Lopez insisted that there should be no mining in watershed areas as such destructive activity would adversely affect the quality of life of people living in those areas.

She noted that water resources dry up when a watershed is adversely affected and mining-related deforestation leads to soil erosion, flooding, and the siltation of water sources.

Mining activities in watersheds also results in lower yield for farmers and decreased catch for fishermen, she added.

“You kill the watershed, you kill life. You kill the river, you kill agriculture, you kill the drinking water," Lopez said.

She asked: "Is it worth it? Who is benefitting from all of these? Who is taking the risk should we continue to allow mining in watersheds?"

An MPSA is an agreement between the government and a contractor which grants the latter the exclusive right to conduct mining operations within the contract area. In return, the government is given a share in the production of the contractor.

The MPSA has a term of 25 years from effective date, and may be renewed thereafter for another term not exceeding 25 years.

The MPSA holders issued show cause orders are the following:

DAVAO / COMPOSTELLA VALLEY Watersheds

• Kingking Mining Corp. (Assignment from Nationwide Dev’t Corp. (NADECOR) and Benguet Corp.)
• Alsons Development and Investment Co., Inc.
• King Eagle Exploration and Mining Corp.
• Dabawenyo Minerals Corp.
• Phil Youbang Mining International Corporation (Assignment from Dabawenyo Minerals Corp.)
• Sinophil Mining and Trading Corporation
• Core Mining Corporation
• Oro-East Mining Company, Inc.
• Napnapan Mineral Resources, Inc.

DINAGAT ISLAND AND SURIGAO Watersheds

• BrightGreen Resources Corporation (formerly Carac-an Development Corp.)
• Pacific Nickel Phils., Inc. (Assignment from PhilnicoMining and Industrial Corp.)
• Consolidated Ores Phils., Inc.

• Philex Gold Philippines, Inc. (Reconveyance from Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. )
• Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. (Assignment from Philex Gold Philippines, Inc.)
• Phigold Metallic Ore, Inc. (Assignment from Heirs of Emeterio L. Collado)
• East Coast Mineral Resources Co., Inc.
• Kepha Mining Exploration Company
• North Dinagat Mineral Resources Corporation
• Das-agan Mining Corporation
• Philex Gold Philippines , Inc. and Rosario Mining Development Company, Rosario Consolidated Mining Corporation and Sta. Irene Mining Corporation as represented by Philex Gold Philippines, Inc.,

ZAMBOANGA Watersheds

• Philex Gold Philippines, Inc.
• Siennalynn Gold Mining Corp.
• Solid North Mineral Corporation (Assignment from Kenell Mining Corp.)
• TVI Resources Development Phils., Inc. (Assignment from Zamboanga Mineral Corp.)
• Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc., (Assignment from Hard Rock Mineral Trading, Inc.)
• 168 Ferrum Pacific Mining Corp.
• Geotechniques and Mines, Inc.
• Roldan B. Dalman
• Peng Cheng Metallic Resources Corporation
• Maharlika Dragon Mining Corporation
• Czarstone Mining Corporation

NEGROS Watersheds

• Vulcan Industrial and Mining Corp.
• Philex Gold Philippines, Inc.
• Vulcan Industrial and Mining Corp.
• Selenga Mining Corporation (Assignment from Colet Mining and Dev’t. Corp.)

ZAMBALES Watersheds

• Shangfil Mining and Trading Corporation (Assignment from A3 UNA Mining Corp.)
• San Juanico Resources Corporation
• Three (3) MPSAs of Mineral Treasures Mining Corporation
• Mina Tierra Gracia, Inc.
• Westchinamin Corporation (Assignment from Ramon G. Perlas)

PALAWAN Watersheds

• Central Palawan Mining and Industrial Corp.
• Palawan Star Mining Ventures, Inc.
• Pyramid Hill Mining and Industrial Corp.
• Two (2) MPSAs of Macroasia Corporation in Brooke’s Point, Palawan
• Lebach Mining Coporation

ABRA Watersheds

• Two (2) MPSAs of Jabel Corp. in Baay-Licuan, Abra

SOCSARGEN Watersheds

• GRCO Isulan Mining Corp. (Assignment from Fadicasu Mining Corp.)
• South Davao Development Co., Inc. (formerly KalinanTimber Corporation)
• South Davao Development Co., Inc.
• Hard Rock Mineral Trading, Inc.

BENGUET Watersheds

• Crescent Mining and Development Corp.
• Itogon Suyoc Resources, Inc. (Assignment from ItogonSuyoc Mines, Inc.)
• Macawiwili Gold Mining and Dev’t Company, Inc.

BATANGAS Watersheds

• Two (2) MPSAs of Egerton Gold Phils., Inc.

SAMAR Watersheds

• Alumina Mining Philippines, Inc.
• Bauxite Resources, Inc.
• Nickelace, Inc. (Assignment from Cambayas Mining Corporation)
• United Philippine and China Mining Corporation

AURORA Watersheds

• Industries Development Corp.

CAMARINES Watersheds

• Indophil Resources, Phil., Inc.

CAPIZ Watersheds

• Parvisgold, Inc.

LEYTE Watersheds

• Plethora Mineral Corporation (Assignment from San Christo Minerals Exploration Corp.)

CEBU Watersheds

• Pio B. Castillo, Jr.

AGUSAN Watersheds

• Asia Alstron Mining and Dev’t. Corp (Assignment from Lamberto N. Lim)
• Phil Astron Mining Corp. (Assignment from Crisnorman S. Linconada)

MINDORO Watersheds

• Three (3) MPSAs of Aglubang Mining Corp. (Sablayan, Occ. Mindoro and Victoria, Or. Mindoro)
• Alagag Mining Coporation

ROMBLON Watersheds

• Altai Philippines Mining Corporation

###

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Published: 14 February 2017

No threat was found after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) inspected 15 bunkhouses occupied by workers of big fishpen operators in Laguna de Bay last Friday.

The inspection was conducted in response to reports that armed guards manning the bunkhouses were scaring off small fishermen going near large fishpens set to be dismantled on Feb. 14.

Assisted by operatives from the Maritime Command of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard, the DENR and the LLDA sealed off "Sector A" area of Laguna Lake and inspected the bunkhouses there for suspected firearms.

But DENR Undersecretary and Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force (NAECTF) head Art Valdez said no firearms were discovered during the inspection on the 15 bunkhouses within the fishpens covering a total of 520 hectares.

"No threat was found following the operation," said Valdez, who led the inspection along with LLDA General Manager Jaime Medina.

Valdez said the purpose of the latest DENR-LLDA operation was to ensure an "unhampered conduct of dismantling" of all big fish pens and cages within the Laguna Lake, which started on Jan. 26.

"This sends a strong signal on the government's determination to see an empowered citizenry reclaiming Laguna Lake, free of intimidation or fear of reprisal," Valdez said.

The dismantling operation is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's directive in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) to dismantle big fish pens and cages in Laguna Lake to allow small fishermen to gain access to traditional fishing grounds.

Valdez said they plan to finish the clearing operation by the middle of the year, in time for the President's second SONA in July.

"With members of civil society groups taking part in the demolition, the Feb. 14 operation may well be a first in the Laguna Lake's journey. But the distmantling operation is just one leg of a long journey toward the lake’s revival," Valdez said, noting that thousands of houses and factories have been dumping their industrial and chemical wastes into the lake for so many years.

"The dumping should also stop, and we need the help of various stakeholders in the lake area to make this happen,” he added. ###

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Published: 12 February 2017