LINGAYEN—Following the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the provincial government is set to accelerate the construction of the 18-hole Golf Course and Country Club Project here in the capital town.

In compliance with the ECC requirements, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed a resolution on January 28 authorizing Governor Amado Espino Jr. to enter into an integrated memorandum of agreement with the DENR for the establishment of a multi-partite monitoring team (MMP) for the project.

According to Engr. Alvin Bigay of the Provincial Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, the MMT will be composed of representatives of the provincial government, the regional office of the EMB (Environmental Management Bureau), the local environment NGO, the municipality of Lingayen, and other concerned government agencies. ”.

Bigay explained that the primary purpose of the team is to oversee the compliance of the provincial government with the environmental management plan and environmental monitoring plan “and other commitments in mitigation measures that are contained in the project Environment Impact Statement and the ECC conditions.”

The composition of the MMT will be determined by the EMB Central Office in consultation with the DENR Regional Office No. 1 and subject to the approval of the EMB Central Office.

Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., chair of the SP, said the governor welcomes the creation of the MMT to ensure that “lahat ng galaw, lahat ng papasukin, lahat ng detalye ay in accordance at walang mga gaps or delays at walang na-overlook…para masigurado na ang venture na ito ay maging pulido, nasa ayos ang lahat.”

The project is estimated to cost over P200 million, which will be funded by a public-private partnership.

South Korean investors have earlier expressed intent to participate in the golf course project, which will be part of an eco-tourism complex as declared in 1998 through a Presidential Proclamation under the term of President Fidel Ramos.

Construction work in the 38-hectare area covering parts of three barangays – Sabangan, Estanza, and Malimpuec – has yet to resume and will be on hold until full compliance with the conditions and requirements stated in the ECC, Bigay said.

The ECC also requires the province to set up an Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF) and an Environmental Monitoring Fund (EMF).

The eco-tourism project is targeted for completion within two years.–Johanne R. Macob

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