CLARK FREEPORT — Uncovering the allegedly “hidden and protected” environmental clearance certificate (ECC) issued for land reclamation for the proposed Bulacan aerotropolis, a fishers’ group has vowed to spread nationwide the protest against the project.
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said yesterday it now has the backing of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Anakpawis Partylist in its move for nationwide protest against San Miguel Corporation’s 2,500-hectare aerotropolis project that would reclaim portions of Manila Bay in Bulakan, Bulacan.
This, after Pamalakaya found out that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has already issued an ECC to SMC contractor Silvertides for “land development cum reclamation project” for the aerotropolis project which was announced for launching this December.
The group said, however, that no ECC has yet been issued for the entire aerotropolis project.
Pamalakaya said that apart from the regional chapters of its allies, it also plans to mobilize for protest actions its 11 regional chapters and 35 provincial chapters covering Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Zambales, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Batangas, Mindoro, Palawan, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Negros island, Cebu, Bohol, Northern Samar, Samar, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental and Sarangani.
“We are expecting their issuances of statement of opposition to the aerotropolis project, and protest actions at regional or provincial DENR offi ces to demand the revocation of the ECC issued to SMC contractor Silvertides,” Pamalakaya chair Fernando Hicap said.
Hicap questioned the ECC issued to Silvertides, saying such document which, he noted, was “hidden and protected from public scrutiny, especially from the directly affected fisherfolk in Barangay Taliptip in Bulakan town.” At least 700 families are to be displaced by the project in the barangay.
“The classified nature of the ECC only adds to the chicanery in the aerotropolis project. SMC president Ramon Ang appears to be in cahoots with transportation chief Arthur Tugade in making the aerotropolis proposal a done deal, amid absence of the ECC for the project itself,” he said.
He also urged that the contract that the two parties signed last September should be made public.
“Was there provision for liquidated damages or damage fee in the contract, in case the project does not push through on various reasons such as the disapproval of the ECC? Such provision would add pressure on the DENR to hastily approve the ECC, to avoid such damage payment,” he noted.
Hicap challenged the DENR Region III office to publish the Silvertides’ ECC and for Tugade to do same with the contract with SMC.
“Restrictions to access these pertinent documents only prove that there are some things to hide from the public and directly-affected sectors. There will be no let up by the fisherfolk movement on this issue, especially that our members across the country would also unite in the protests,” he also said.
Pamalakaya said the aerotropolis project would dam up floods in several towns in Bulacan, displace scores of fisherfolk, destroy historical sites and the ecological environment in the Manila Bay.
