Following the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) pending issuance of environmental compliance certificates (ECC), the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) held back on its decision on eight power supply agreements (PSAs).
The eight pending applications are those from the Astronergy Development Mindanao Inc and Misamis Oriental II Electric Cooperative Inc.; Aurora Electric Cooperative and Mariveles Power Generation Corp. (MPGC); Delta P Inc and Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco); Cebu I Electric Cooperative and MPGC; Cebu II Electric Cooperative Inc and MPGC; Pampanga II Electric Cooperative Inc. and MPGC, and the separate filings of Tarlac I Electric Cooperative Inc. and MPGC.
“The ERC fully shares DENR’s concern to ensure the protection of the environment and is determined to help safeguard the people’s right to a balanced and healthful ecology in accordance with the Constitution”, ERC chairman and CEO Jose Vicente B. Salazar said.
DENR requires an ECC for any project in the Philippines that has a potential environmental risk or impact to the environment. This includes mining, and agriculture and construction projects.
ECCs also cover that companies followed all the requirements of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, and has followed its Environmental Management Plan.