Cimatu lifts ECC suspension

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu has lifted the suspension on the environmental compliance

Cimatu, in his Memorandum Circular 2018-14 dated October 5, gave the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 6 the green light to lift the suspension against the ECCs issued to “complying” hotels and other establishments on the island.

The environment department earlier suspended the ECCs of all business establishments in the island pending a thorough review of their compliance with existing local and national laws.

The DENR also created a committee composed of representatives from the DENR, EMB, and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to review the compliance of these establishments with their respective ECCs.

In the new memo, Cimatu ordered the committee to continuously monitor all Boracay establishments on their compliance with existing ECCs and environmental management plans and to submit reports.

“Likewise, the EMB Regional Office 6 shall continue to monitor establishments despite such lifting of suspension of their respective ECCs, and monitor all establishments issued with Certificate of Non- Coverage ( CNC) to ensure their compliance with environmental laws and assure that no violation against the same is committed,” he added.

ECCs are issued to projects that pose potential risks or impacts on the environment. A project proponent is required to secure an ECC before starting its operations.

The CNCs, on the other hand, are issued to proposed projects that are unlikely to cause adverse environmental impacts.

The DENR said it likewise recently begun to issue Certificates of Conditional Approval ( CCAs) to establishments considered to be “90 to 95 per cent compliant” with environmental regulations.

Businesses granted CCAs are those that have fulfilled all DENR- related requirements except that on sewage treatment plants ( STPs), which are yet be completed or are still undergoing construction.

The CCA allows establishments to proceed to the Department of Interior and Local Government for assessment of permits, and finally to the Department of Tourism for final accreditation and clearance to operate when the island reopens.

The DENR said that as of October 8, it has issued CCAs to 159 establishments in Boracay.