PEOPLE POWWOW

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BY HERBERT VEGO
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DENR head erred on Semirara

THIS corner has nothing personal against Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; we don’t know each other. Whatever “unfriendly” commentary said of her here last Tuesday was only aimed at assailing the credibility of her official actions, especially the suspension of 10 mining companies on the strength of an undersecretary’s recommendation.
To reiterate, it was Undersecretary Leo Jasareno, as head of the DENR audit team and director of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB), who had recommended their suspension, allegedly for violation of environmental laws and regulations. Since the same person had not made a similar move during six years of the Aquino presidency, we are constrained to suspect “forced move” on his part.
Incidentally, it was Jasareno – a holdover from the Aquino administration – whom Lopez designated as MGB head, thus contravening President Duterte’s will. Take note that in a directive dated July 26, 2016, it was Undersecretary Mario Luis Jacinto whom Duterte appointed as concurrent director of the MGB.
Surprisingly, Jasareno did an “inaction” that somehow disappointed Boss Gina, who had expected his audit team to also suspend coal mining by Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) in Semirara Island, Caluya, Antique. After a two-day audit, Jasareno’s mine audit team “cleared” Semirara.
On knowing that the open-pit mining company had received the audit report ahead of her, according to a newspaper report, Lopez hollered, “I am shocked.”
Based on that report, Semirara has fully complied with all the conditions of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC), including proper land use, implementation of climate change initiatives, risk management plan and rehabilitation plan.
Lopez, on the other hand, was of the opinion that the 40 hectare-area that comprises the 5,000-hectare island is an open pit below sea level, hence might endanger lives due to seepage or penetration of sea water.
Such a scenario has never happened in Semirara’s history. The soil surrounding the island is largely hardened clay that serves as natural hedge against seepage. Moreover, heavy-duty motor pumps are always on standby to drain rain water.
As regards the two fatal cave-in accidents that befell mine workers in 2013 and 2015, they were caused by loose landslips. Safeguards against similar occurrence in the future – namely a radar and observation post – have been installed.
We know because seven of us Ilonggo  journalists – acting on a tip that Secretary Lopez would be around – went to Semirara last August 30. There were other visitors, notably the members of DENR’s audit team, who faced hundreds of school children with placards screaming:
“Sec. Lopez, kung ipasara n’yo ang Semirara, mapakain n’yo ba kami?”
“Sa tulong ng SMPC, nakapag-aaral kami nang libre.”
They were disappointed; no Gina Lopez arrived to listen.
Anyway, we had the pleasure of conversing with Ma. Lourdes Avanceña-Arcenas, Semirara’s social development consultant. She said it was very long ago, on November 20, 1940, that President Manuel Luis Quezon signed Proclamation 649 declaring the neighboring islands of Semirara, Sibay and Caluya as “coal mining reservations.”
Fortunately, Lopez is aware that closing SMPC, which produces 90 percent of local coal, would not be a walk in the park. While most of its coal is exported, the firm fills 30 percent of the Philippines’ power requirement.
The phenomenon, according to Mayor Genevive Reyes, explains why the island municipality of Caluya has the highest annual income – as much as P500 million – among the 18 municipalities of Antique.
Meanwhile, Secretary Lopez is looking into complaints imputing “midnight deals” to Undersecretary Jasareno and other DENR officials over grants of operational extension or expansion to favored mining companies during the last days of the Aquino administration.
To think that Jasareno is her favorite…Nothing could be more perplexing./PN
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