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December 15, 2000
To : Rodolfo Quicho
Tanggol Kalikasan
Haribon Foundation
From: Eric Garrett
Project Manager
Philippine Endemic Species Conservation Project (PESCP)
Re : Manila sends its garbage to a beleaguered Island
Sir,
I believe we met briefly at your office on a day in November when your
group was heading out the door to attend a demonstration. I made inquiries
about Tanggol Kalikasan's range of interest in advance of our implementing
a CBRM program here in the Northwest Panay peninsula. Now I have a more
immediate and urgent matter to report, and I would appreciate your advice
and possibly the assistance of your office.
You may be aware of the efforts of the Metro Manila Development Authority
(MMDA) to contract the Semirara Coal Company (SCC) and its parent company,
DMCI-RII Builders Consortium, to establish a garbage dumpsite on Semirara
Island, Municipality of Caluya, Antique. SCC currently operates an open pit
mine in Semirara for the extraction of coal and has a bad record in
complying with environmental requirements and social responsibilities. They
are -as might be thought typical- trying to press the dumpsite on the
island community through various means, including intimidation, bribery,
and manipulation of public office at the national, regional and local level.
On Dec. 15, during the regular session of the Sangunniang Panlalawigan,
Former Makati Mayor Binay and Secretary Aventajado, head of Special
Projects for Pres. Estrada descended on Antiques' capital, San Jose, with
entourage and joined a contingent from SCC to present their case. Little
notice was given and concerned citizens assembled in haste to attend,
including several SBs, one Municipal Mayor, and a very small contingent
from Semirara that had, by luck, learned that the issue was to be
discussed. In brief, an opposition was mounted to represent the broadly
shared view that Antique did not appreciate being regarded as the trash can
for Manila's unchecked appetites, unregulated growth and poor management.
SCC made a slide show presentation to the group that amounted to a research
project for "best practices" in the waste management industry, using case
studies from the US, Japan, and other centers of wealth and technology that
neither reflect the current realities in the Philippines nor the history of
the Semirara Coal Company. In the end, they project the enormous benefits
that are to accrue to Semirara for being host to Manila's garbage. The
Chair of the SP, Vice Governor Marfil, described the day as an opportunity
for MMDA and SCC to make their case, and curtailed the opposition in terms
of time and the number of questions.
There are many details that need to be related at length to explain why we
are concerned that the decision to accept the dumpsite in Semirara will not
be made by the people who will have to live with the consequences.
Depending on the duration of the site and the quality of its management,
this could affect the entire coast of Antique and portions of Aklan. We are
not aware of any EIA, nor has anyone seen a feasibility study or technical
specifications. The current site in Manila is mandated to close on Dec. 31
of this year, and it was clearly the preference of Binay that a decision to
commence the loading of barges for shipment to Semirara be made before that
time.
It was clear that SCC and MMDA had manipulated the situation to divide the
opposition, and they treated the clear resistance (including a resolution
by the SB of Caluya to oppose the proposed garbage site on Semirara) as a
casual inconvenience. It is also not propitious to discover that the SCC
workers (mostly imported) are to be trained as para-military. Semirara is a
fairly remote location and labor organizing has been suppressed over the
years of SCC operations. People there report a sense of isolation and fear
that they can be dismissed without any recourse to normal channels of appeal.
Environmental concerns include a history in which SCC has pushed its will
through connections at the top level of the DENR, by-passing normal
procedures for the conduct of EIAs and the issuance of ECCs, depending on a
relationship between the owners of the company and Sec. Cerilles. The
mandate of the CENRO of jurisdiction is restrained to an observer's role.
According to the report of a former company employee (tasked to oversee
environmental compliance and fired for doing so) the dumping of earth from
the excavation sites have extended the coastline by an area of between 1-2
square kilometers in two locations, and is described as a "land
reclamation" project. Coral reef that once thrived in these areas have been
blanketed in earth and rock, and now excavation occurs directly in what was
once coastal waters, with excavated materials being deposited outside a
"protection barrier" designed to contain tailings and siltation. A turtle
sanctuary exists in the area., and local fish catches are reported to have
been reduced by two-thirds.
Now, this same company is to establish and maintain a dumpsite, handling
daily at least 2000 tons of Manila's complex refuse in an environmentally
critical area. The threat exists that garbage will begin to be shipped
despite local opposition. A task-force to develop resistance and monitor
the events is being assembled, and it is considering the possible necessity
to establish a blockade at the loading site in Manila (reported to be pier
18).
This situation is comparable to another event that affects the mainland,
also in Antique. On Dec. 4, the Municipal Mayor of Libertad received
notification fro Sec. Cerriles that Tudor Mining Company had been granted a
certificate of non-coverage for the resumption of marble extraction in NW
Panay in an 800 hectare sight, portions of which are within the zone of a
proposed protected area (among the number one priority areas of CIs
priority-setting process just concluded on Dec. 8). Again, there is strong
local opposition and resolutions rejecting the claim are being processed
through the SB and jointly by the four barangays affected. For this
situation, we have requested the assistance of FPE, which has approved our
proposal for a CBRM program beginning in January that includes this area.
These cases, I believe, can be seen as suitable for establishing important
precedent for the interpretation of the Local Government Code of 1991,
particularly with respect to the prerogatives of the national offices of
the DENR. In the case of Caluya, the municipal offices of government, the
communities of Semirara and local opposition in Antique could benefit from
your assistance and advice. I would hope that you would confer with Juju
Tan to determine how any response could be coordinated with the FPE. I took
the liberty of advising Dr. Bobi Alojipan, head of the Outpatient Charity
Division of the Makati Medical Center, to contact your office for advice.
He represents a group called PAGTATAP, an extended network of citizens
from Pandan, Antique who are mobilizing resistance to the dumpsite in
Semirara.
One last presumption on my part would be to ask that you provide me with a
brief confirmation that you received this letter.
With appreciation,
(SGD.) ERIC GARRETT
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