by Tara Yap – July 13, 2016
from Manila Bulletin
Iloilo City—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-6) may cancel a permit it granted to a P4.5-billion renewable energy project in Aklan province.
In April, 2016, DENR-Aklan found that trees were illegally cut in a forest protected area. The tree cutting was part of pre-development works of Oriental Energy’s 18-megawatt (18-MW) hydropower plant in Madalag town.DENR-6 Regional Director Jim Sampulna said that the Forest Land Use Agreement issued to Oriental Energy and Power Generation Project Corp. can be revoked.
Oriental Energy’s subcontractor chopped trees within a 2.3-hectare site of DENR’s National Greening Program (NGP) to pave way for its road network.
DENR-6 already ordered a stop to the work, but Oriental Energy’s subcontractor continued to defy the order.
Atty. Jonathan Bulos, regional director of DENR-6’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-6), added that Oriental Energy also violated its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Meanwhile, DENR-6 is recommending to DENR Central Office in Metro Manila to impose a P4.6-million penalty fee against Oriental Energy as well as the mandatory replanting to replace the damaged trees.
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