News Briefs

CAPITOL ECC

A PEOPLE’S organization sought the revocation of the Capitol’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), saying the provincial government violated some provisions in relation to its use of the Balili property in barangay Tina-an, Naga City.

The Freedom from Debt Coalition-Cebu (FDC-Cebu) wrote the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Manila to petition for the revocation of the Capitol’s ECC since it did not undergo consultation with the affected residents.

The 23.2-hectare Balili property owned by the Capitol is being developed into a secured coal ash landfill for use by the coal plant operated by the Korean Electric Power Corp.-Salcon Power Corp. (Kepco-SPC).

But the local DENR office issued a notice of violation against the Capitol last week for cutting down coconut trees within the area without a permit and failing to set up a monitoring team for ECC compliance and an environmental guarantee fund (EGF).

The agency also said limestone and  polyethylene sheets were used to line the pit instead of sand and gravel as required by the ECC. The DENR set a technical conference on July 12 so the Capitol can explain their side. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya

GUN FACTORY

A DANAO-BASED cooperative of gunsmiths whose factory was raided recently was reminded to comply with government requirements to continue their operations.

Provincial Board (PB) member Carmen Durano-Meca said the officers of the Workers League of Danao Multipurpose Cooperative (WORLD-MPC) should complete their requirements to spare those workers who rely on gun manufacturing as their livelihood.

“Rather than engage in finger-pointing, this should be the avenue for them to unite and to work harder to ensure their growth and development in the near future,” she said.

As a Danao City councilor and Philippine Councilors League (PCL) representative to the PB, Durano-Meca said she recognized the gun manufacturing industry as a major livelihood for constituents. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus