The Environmental Management Bureau confirms that it has not issued the required environmental compliance certificate for the P2-billion palm oil plantation project
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – The Consunji group’s Hacienda Asia Plantations Incorporated (HAPI) found itself facing a fresh wave of public outcry, with local environmental groups stepping up calls to halt its operations in the town of Candoni, Negros Occidental, after it was revealed that it secured no environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
The Group of Environmental Socialists Incorporated (GOES), Green Alert Network-Negros Island Region (GAN), and the Gatuslao Agroforestry Banana Sugarcane and Coconut Farmers Association (GABASCFA) banded together, denouncing HAPI’s operations as illegal.
Their joint statement, released in early October, called for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to intervene immediately, citing concerns over the project’s environmental impact.
On October 1, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) confirmed that it had not issued the required ECC for HAPI’s operations.
A letter from the EMB, addressed to local stakeholders, read: “Please be informed that this office has not yet received an application for an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the said project. We will be conducting a Technical Conference to address the issues and concerns regarding the project.”
The ECC, an essential document from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), certifies that a proposed project will not cause undue harm to the environment. Without it, HAPI’s continued operations have come under intense scrutiny from both the community and environmental watchdogs.
GOES coordinator Ariel Dela Cruz expressed disappointment with the Candoni local government for giving the green light to the project without first securing all necessary legal permits, the Negros Daily Bulletin reported.
“The lack of response and accountability from the authorities shows a discrepancy,” he said.
He called on the town’s mayor, Ray Ruiz, and the DENR to take immediate action to halt the activities pertaining to the P2-billion palm oil plantation project.
Ruiz, who once called the project a “blessing” for the community, now finds himself in hot water as the venture moves forward without the required ECC.
In an interview with Rappler on October 21, Ruiz said he had reached out to HAPI’s management, urging them to secure the ECC from the DENR. He added that HAPI assured him they would comply.
Proposal denied
Ruiz also dispelled allegations that the local government failed to take action on the issue, particularly in securing the necessary permits before the project started.
He said that in 2022, the local government had sought a co-management agreement with the DENR, which would have allowed them to intervene and protect the area’s rich biodiversity and watershed, portions of which fall within the project area.
However, the DENR rejected the proposal, citing the lack of applicable regulations that would allow a government body to enter into a co-management agreement over an Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) area.
Ruiz explained that after the proposal was rejected, the local government could not directly intervene in HAPI’s operations, as these are solely under the DENR’s jurisdiction, unless displacement and loss of livelihood are reported.
“If violations are determined by the appropriate government agencies, we will assist in serving the notices, like we recently did with the notice of violation issued against them by the Provincial Environment and Management Office (PEMO),” Ruiz said.
The issue has been compounded by the growing fears of residents in the villages of Gatuslao, Agboy, and Payawan, who face displacement and loss of livelihood due to the project.
The three environmental groups said they plan to submit a letter to the DENR, urging them to issue a cease and desist order (CDO) against the project for proceeding without fulfilling the necessary documentation requirements.
Joshua Villalobos, convenor of Negros Initiatives for Climate and Environment (NICE), said they have suspected from the start that HAPI lacks the necessary documentation.
He said they would contact the DENR to initiate a dialogue and public forum regarding HAPI’s disregard for the Philippines’ environmental rules and regulations. – Rappler.com
