Naga City ‘applied clearance’ for oval’s construction – DENR

CEBU, Philippines – The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has confirmed that the Naga City government has applied for an Environmental Compliance Certificate for the proposed 2.6-hectare sports oval inside the City Central School.

DENR information officer Eddie Llamedo yesterday said the city last Monday applied the ECC, which is a vital requirement to commence the planned construction of a track oval inside the school.

"They just applied yesterday (November 24) for ECC. Since the project size is 2.6 hectares, ECC is required," Llamedo said.

According to Llamedo, the EMB-7 has 30 days to act on the application. The agency will evaluate the plan by looking into the impacts of the project to the environment.

Llamedo said under Presidential Decree 1586, resorts and recreation projects like track oval that are beyond 1,000 square meters should pass for an ECC.

Mayor Valdemar Chiong envisions to construct a P67 million sports oval which will sit on 2.6-hectare area to cater to sports activities not only in Cebu but in the Visayas.

Llamedo explained that applying for ECC had to go through the social acceptability process first.

"With the application, they get clearances or endorsements from the barangay and a nod from the Naga City Council interposing no objection to the project," Llamedo said.

According to the Revised Procedural Manual for the DENR's Department Administrative Order 2003-30, "no permits and or clearances issued by other national government agencies and local government units shall be required in the processing of ECC applications."

But the same order does not exempt a proponent from securing other government permits and clearances as required by other laws.

"We will try to critically identify the mitigating measures like issues on solid waste management, air, water and noise pollution, waste water discharges," Llamedo added.