E Q U A L I Z I N G : Highlights of Tanjay City Mayor Teves’ press briefing yesterday on Channel 6 Fil Products Cable TV, 6pm news feature (perhaps good idea to request video copy for those who missed watching it): 1. Given recent series of big floods in the city, there is dire need for a flood control action; 2. Dredging mouth of Tanjay River is a good option for flood control; 3. Opportunity offered by Sino-Italy Co. to dredge under Public-Private Partnership (PPP): a. Dredging project is free; b. Dredging company gets to harvest free black sand mineral in return, but subject to barangay, city and provincial shares as income tax; c. Dredge waste material disposal makes into a 5 hectare (or 35 ? missed this part) reclamation component of the project as a bonus result of the project; 4. Legal basis sourced from permit approvals issued by DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), along with issuances under PPP; 5. However, the good mayor frankly admits he does not have full understanding of the technical aspect of the project, like how much volume and value involved in the recovery process that goes to the dredging company. Because for him the free flood control dredging is sufficient unless of course, he adds in fairness, there are other and better solutions offered -- which sadly none was offered at the consultation meeting held last Saturday. Footnote: At face value, as given above, the free flood control dredging project is indeed a good idea. And there is a required presumption of regularity in the issuances of DENR to allow such dredging with mining activity considering that, aside from DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau permit, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau also issued a corresponding permit. However, like the good city mayor, most if not all of us Tanjayanons also do not have full understanding of the technical aspect of the project, which is not good for the community if it remains that way for an important life/habitat affecting undertaking as this and things left to chance. Furthermore, there has been lots of similar dredging with mining activities that were reported to be scandalously destructive to the host area, like in Zambales, Cagayan and Hinobaan, naturally causing certain apprehensions. It is therefore our collective duty now as affected city citizens to seek vital and clear information on the matter and thus henceforth necessary for the regulatory bodies like EMB and MGB to issue an official written position paper detailing the circumstances of their approvals and endorsing advisability of the project to the city government so we are duly informed, apprehensions appeased and prepared for any critical environmental side effect, if any; while holding themselves and the project undertakers duly accountable, too, in the process. Albeit there are three main aspects (Technical, Legal and Financial) to consider in projects like this, it can be safely said here that only the Technical aspect, environmental in general and advisability and sustainability in particular, holds the key to unity in project appreciation and implementation. – ncl 10/15/13
Posted on: Mon, 14 Oct 2013 19:56:09 +0000
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