A week or two ago it was all over the TV that the local DENR officials were caught red handed taking bribes to issues ECC clearances. Yet what has the government done to investigate the dirtiest of all ECCs, the coal fired power plant that is being thrust upon our community? Local Government officials are declaring objection almost on a daily basis but it seems the payoffs were too high up the tree well out of there reach.
Should not the Ombudsman step in at this point and clear the confusion?.
from yesterdays Manila Bulletin:
IBA, Zambales, Philippines — The provincial government here urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) it issued for the Subic coal-fired power plant as Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. denied Tuesday a report misstating his support for the project.
“That report doesn’t have any shred of truth in it,” Ebdane said. “In fact, I have just signed Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 2011-149, which categorically stated our strong opposition to the establishment of a coal-fired plant at Cawag, Subic Zambales.”
Ebdane said the Zambales provincial board passed the resolution opposing the coal plant project proposed for construction at the Redondo Peninsula on August 1. He approved the same resolution on August 10, the governor added.
The office of Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II also stressed that the provincial board “remains in strong opposition” to the project proposed by the Redondo Peninsula Energy Incorporated (RP Energy), a company formed by Aboitiz Power Corp., Taiwan Cogeneration Corp., and Manila Electric Company.
