SBMA chief defends condo project inside forest reserve

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Areza maintained yesterday that the construction of high-rise condominiums within the 10,000-hectare forest reserve and watershed area of the free port by South Korea’s Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Ltd. did not violate any environmental laws as the area has long been declared as “area for sustainable development.”

“Nothing irregular was done with regard to this project,” Areza told the weekly Kapihan sa Manila media forum. He made the statement amid strong opposition from environmental groups to the project.

Areza also said that SBMA is set to become “a model of balanced development” in the country.

The Senate earlier said it will also conduct an inquiry as to whether any environmental laws were violated.

Areza said he is ready to attend the Senate investigations to defend the  project.

Meanwhile, Areza said they have offered Hanjin other locations for the residential buildings inside the SBMA, but he said Hanjin is more interested in the area.

Meanwhile, Raffy Barrozo, of the Philippine Organic Alliance, accused yesterday SBMA officials for “trading off” the environment in exchange for investments.

“Hanjin’s project is not a sustainable development,” Barrozo said, “You cannot buy the environment.”

In response to Barrozo’s accusations, Areza urged environmental groups to review the SBMA’s environmental record.

 “I think it is unfair to put the blame  on SBMA,” Areza said, adding the development is increasing economic opportunities for the country.

One of the country’s biggest foreign investors, Hanjin has built a $1.6-billion shipyard at Subic and is constructing a $2-billion shipping facility in Misamis Oriental. President Arroyo has supported the shipyard  projects, saying they reflect foreign confidence in the economy.