PB wants Atlas Mining to comply with environmental requirements

The Cebu Provincial Board yesterday appealed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reconsider its decision exempting the Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation from complying with the Environmental Impact Assessment Statement and Environmental Compliance Certificate.

 In a resolution, the PB said the government has already given ACMDC a substantial support for its operation such as exemption of payment of import duties of mining equipment as well as sovereign guaranty of its loans.   The PB said for ACMDC to reciprocate the support given by the government, it should comply with the EIAS and ECC requirements.

 ACMDC, located in Toledo City, is set to reopen after being closed for over a decade. Presently, it is still under renovation.

 The resolution, whose proponents include Board Members Victor Maambong, Peter John Calderon and Agnes Magpale, stated that it is surprising that the DENR has decided to exempt ACMDC from complying with the requirements, which are essential before it is allowed to reopen.  It said it is through the EIAS and ECC that the public would be able to know the social acceptability of the project.

The resolution added that the DENR should make sure that the mining firm will comply with the two requirements.  —  Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM