The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) clarified that the five-megawatt (MW) power plant of Avon River Holdings Corporation in Brgy. Mabilo, New Washington, Aklan had an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Baltazar Gerardo of the Provincial DENR Office said this following the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) resolution urging them to revoke and/or cancel ECC No. 0604-0301-113-120 issued to Avon River for failure to operationalize the Multi-Partite Monitoring Team (MMT) and the Environmental Monitoring Fund (EMF).
"The power plant has complied with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as prescribed by Presidential Decree (PD) 1586 and Section 3 of PD 1121. The proponent and the EIA preparer are severally accountable for any misrepresentation and their failure to state material information shall be sufficient cause for the cancellation or suspension of the ECC," Gerardo said during the 38th regular SP session. Gerardo added, "Avon River Power Holdings Corp. has a temporary permit to operate the 5-MW diesel engine/generator set on April 5, 2006 and a Discharge Permit issued by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Bienvenido Lipayon.
On March 1, 2004, Ariel Armand Lapus, Vice President for Business Development of Avon River Holdings Corp. also secured the ECC from then DENR – Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Samson Guillergan.
Edwin Jimenez, who was also invited in the session, stressed those 133 residents of Sitio Eo-ok, Brgy. Mabilo, New Washington, Aklan complained of headaches, restlessness, coughing, respiratory problems and other illnesses attributed to the toxic fumes of the plant when it was operated on September 28 to October 11.
"They are operating even at midnight; ash falls reached the ground, affecting our health, including those of our children," Jimenez said.
But Gerardo said "the power plant is installing a 40-meter chimney to mitigate the alleged ill effects in the health of the people due to its operation./MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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