Probe result: EDC did not violate Clean Water Act
BACOLOD CITY -- The Multi-Sectoral Monitoring Team (MSMT) and the Executive Committee which was formed by Department of Environment and Natural Resources resolved that Energy Development Corporation has not violated the Clean Water Act known as P.D. 984 and RA 9275, based on their deliberation held April 15, 2009.
DENR Regional Director Bienvinido L. Lipayon, Murcia Mayor Santiago Coscolluela, Annabelle Millarez, DENR Environment Management Bureau, Engr. Joerivic Mesias, representing Bago City Government, Engr. Gino dela Cruz, Northern Negros Geothermal Production Field (NNGPF) Resident Manager, Forester Erwin Magallanes, NNGPF Environment Senior Supervisor attended the said meeting.
Director Lipayon presided the said meeting.
In the interest of public service, the EXECOM of the MSMT for the NNGPF issued the following update on the Gayas case of the Energy Development Corporation.
The body resolved that EDC has no violation pertinent to P.D. 984 and RA 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act). The law requires a compliance level of 90% for water quality standards.
Based on the annual monitoring statistics, the 1-day upset was way above the compliance limit set in the law.
EDC in its disclosure declared accident in operation which was controlled within 4 hours.
EDC was required to assist the affected farmers. A matrix of payment was proposed by the LGU based on their discussion with the farmers for several weeks.
The proper compensation was based on the assessment of the Department of Agriculture and was required to be charged to the Environment Guaranty Fund (EGF). The EXECOM instructed EDC to accomplish the payment starting April 17, 2009.
This came after as on March 4, 2009, EDC reported the Gayas incident and requested for the mobilization of the MSMT to investigate the issue in compliance with the relevant environmental guidelines.
The MSMT conducted an ocular inspection of the site, interviewed the stakeholders and sampled water and soil from the area on March 6-9, 2009.
Following the DENR rules, the sealed samples were brought to the two-third party laboratories, for agricultural and chemical analysis.
On the residual effects, agricultural laboratory analysis indicated that the macro and micro nutrients of the Gayas farm soils are still favorable. Additional soil conditioners or organic fertilizers were advised to be added to assist the new and upcoming crops.