Cimatu lays down investor-friendly initiatives at DENR

Environment and Natural Secretary Roy Cimatu told foreign investors, including those in the mining industry, that doing business with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be easy under his leadership.

Speaking at the gathering of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Cimatu has bared "investor-friendly initiatives," assuring foreign investors that the DENR will continue to push for clean and green energy, promote proper management of water resources and solid waste, and ensure responsible mining.

In particular, Cimatu said the DENR remains committed to its role in facilitating the ease of obtaining environmental clearances for investors.

Cimatu also told ECCP members that the DENR has recently introduced some improvements in the implementation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) system, as well as in the processing and issuance of tree cutting permits for development projects.

"One, we have provided facilities for on-line application for environmental compliance certificate to shorten the process," Cimatu said.

"Two, authority to issue cutting permits of planted trees has been delegated to the regional office. Further delegation to the PENRO (Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office) and CENRO (Community Environment and Natural Resources Office) is being considered."

As regards to ensuring responsible mining, Cimatu said the DENR will continue to "strictly enforce mining and environmental regulations, and mining operations found violating laws, rules and regulations shall be subject to penalties, suspensions and/ or cancellation."

"Mining in the Philippines can only be responsible if the development of the country’s mineral resources will be on the basis of technical feasibility, environmental sustainability, cultural and social acceptability and financial viability. The absence of one will not render the project responsible," Cimatu said.

To recall, Cimatu earlier assured investors that he won't close the doors to the possibility of allowing new mining projects in the country.

This means that the abolishment of Executive Order (EO) 79 could now be in the works.

Under EO 79, which was imposed by former President Benigno Aquino 3rd, no new mineral agreements shall be approved until a legislation rationalizing existing revenue sharing schemes and mechanisms shall have taken effect.

In pushing for clean and green energy, Cimatu said the DENR fully supports the Department of Energy in the implementation of Republic Act No. 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

Cimatu said the agency has been actively promoting the deployment of clean and green energy sources through the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the recently signed Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) between the Philippines and Japan.

CDM is a financial mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol which enables developed countries, such as ECCP member countries, to implement costeffective emission reduction projects in developing countries.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 320, the DENR has been designated as the national authority for CDM, with its Environmental Management Bureau as the secretariat.

So far, there are a total of 119 CDM project applications received, of which 70 projects have been successfully registered comprising of 21 large-scale and 49 small-scale projects. Most of these are renewable energy initiatives.

Meanwhile, JCM is a low carbon growth partnership between Japan and the Philippines. It facilitates greenhouse gas emission reductions or removals through projects implemented by companies or cities from the partner countries.

JCM is expected to promote the transfer and use of clean and green technology.

Potential projects under the mechanism are in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste handling and disposal.

Cimatu said the DENR is working hard to address the issue of landfills and dumpsites by promoting the use of waste-to-energy (WTE) or the process of generating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the primary treatment of waste.

"WTE technologies and projects are starting to gain momentum in the Philippines. There are now quite a number of projects making use of WTE technologies," Cimatu said.