DENR stops firm’s dredging activities in Zambales town for lack of ECC
Residents in San Narciso in Zambales are opposing the construction of a jetty port due to the expected environmental damage it will cause. (Contributed)
SAN NARCISO, Zambales—Environmental group Save Zambales Kalikasan Movement (SZKM) on Thursday\ hailed as a “huge victory” the notice of violation issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to a company reportedly engaged in dredging activities for the construction of a jetty port.
The DENR also ordered AGN Trading to pay 50,000 in damages for starting the project in this town without an environmental compliance certificate.
“We are happy that the DENR saw that the AGN Trading violated the law. We will ensure that this will never happen again in our town,” said Ricardo Reyes Jr., fisherman and SZKM president.
SZKM is a network of organizations, like fishermen’s groups Pamamalakaya, Deep Sea Fishing Inc., San Narciso Bangus Fry Association, San Narciso Resorts Owners Association, women, and other concerned citizens.
The group opposes the reported construction of a port in this town and nearby San Felipe town that they said could be a prelude to black sand mining.
According to SZKM, the company has been rehabilitating the creek in Barangay San Rafael in San Felipe that leads to the West Philippine Sea.
It said the dredging activities were in preparation for the construction of a jetty port in the area, based on the permits of AGN.
The group has launched a petition calling on the local government to recall the permits and clearances it reportedly issued to the company and stop the construction of a jetty port.
“We will ensure that no person or corporation or lawless entities will destroy or implement projects, especially those that have a negative impact on our ecosystem…” Reyes told the Inquirer.
In October, the DENR issued the notice of violation to the AGN, a copy of which was obtained by SZKM only this week.
The Inquirer tried but failed to reach the representative of the AGN and the local government of San Narciso for comments.
