Zoning board junks crematorium project for lack of social acceptability
Crematorium, no more.
City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the City Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals (CZBAA) has denied the application of the Philippine American Cemetery Association (PACA) to put up a crematorium in Barangay of Our Lady Fatima in Jaro district.
Treñas said Thursday that the board had already agreed in principle to dismiss PACA's application for the establishment of a crematorium. The written decision of the board is expected to be out Monday.
The CZBAA is chaired by Atty. Edgar Gil, chief of the City Legal Office. Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo, City Planning and Development Office chief Noel Hechanova, City Engineer Marito Amatorio and Realtor Flor Besana and Herminio Maravilla of the Iloilo Busines Club also comprise the board.
During the deliberation, Peñaredondo opted to inhibit himself since he has a sister living in the proposed site.
He said the applicant primarily failed to get the approval of the residents or the so-called "social acceptance" on the proposed crematorium.
Residents strongly opposed the project which they believed is hazardous to their health.
The mayor also explained that the board also denied PACA's application for a crematorium since the proposed site of the project is populated and is near from school and restaurants.
The CZBAA's decision is quite in contrast with the arguments and facts recently presented before the Sangguniang Panlungsod. They said the project proponent has the "legal legs" to push through with the project.
Earlier, the Council through Councilor Perla Zulueta, chair of the committee on public services, environmental protection and ecology said the proponent need not to get the approval of the residents or be socially accepted by the residents because they (PACA) were able to secure a Certificate of Non-Coverage from the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau.
The certificate was signed by OIC Regional Director Bienvinido Lipayon and dated March 14, 2006. The issuance of the Certificate of Non-Coverage negated the need for the issuance of an ECC prior to the implementation of the crematorium.
Public consultations are held whenever the applicant asks for an endorsement of the city council for the issuance of an ECC.
DENR-Administrative order No. 2003-30 which governs on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Philippine Environment Impact Statement (EIS) System, Article I Section 3 defines that Certificate of Non-Coverage is "a certification issued by EMB certifying that based on the submitted project description, the project is not covered by the EIS System and is not required to secure an ECC."