EMB to BSL: Stop illegal reclamation along Calmay River
A RECLAMATION along the Calmay River continues despite the cancellation by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) it earlier issued to the 888 Dagupan Properties Corporation in August 5, 2008 and the city government has not acted to stop it.
This was gleaned from the regular delivery of sand and gravel and other backfilling materials to the reclamation site by the corporation under the cover of darkness. The site located on the west side of Jose R. de Venecia Expressway Extension already shows an expanded reclaimed flat area.
The 888 Dagupan Properties Corporation, reportedly owned by William Chua of Mangaldan town and represented by Catherine Barmachea was served a cease and desist order dated 15 January 2009 by the EMB and was penalized P50,000.
The backfilling operations ceased thereafter but were resumed as soon as Mayor Benjamin Lim assumed his post last July.
When the Sangguniang Panlungsod inquired on the status of the ECC issued to the corporation EMB Director Joel Salvador said the CDO issued to the corporation has not been lifted.
The EMB said it cancelled the ECC it issued to the corporation on August. 5, 2008 with finality.
Salvador pointed out that the corporation’s application for an ECC was only for land development of its titled property, but not for river reclamation, hence the ECC was withdrawn and cancelled.
He called on the city government during a media forum to help enforce the order of the EMB since the river being reclaimed is within its jurisdiction and the resulting action would impact on the city’s environment.
However, the Lim administration has not initiated any legal action against the corporation despite its knowledge of the cancellation of the ECC and notwithstanding its announced policy banning reclamation and backfilling of properties in the district.
Mayor Lim had issued Memorandum No. 27 S. of 2010 to City Engineer Romeo Rosario and Arch. Emmanuel Palaganas, zoning administrator to justify the rejection of the application for clearance by CSI Group of Companies to build a hotel complex in Lucao.
Lim’s memorandum, stated in part: x x x the conversion of fishponds for other uses is in violation of Section 2.2 of City Ordinance No. 957-768 or the Comprehensive Zoning Regulations for Dagupan City, which provides for the protection of the “character and stability of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural (fishponds) included and open spaces within the locality and promote the orderly and beneficial development of the same.”
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