By Ghio Ong/Manila Times
Rizal governor Rebecca Ynares yesterday added her voice to the growing opposition to a plan by a local cement firm to cut down some 6,500 trees in Angono town to make way for the expansion of its quarrying operation.
In an interview with Manila Times, Ynares said she had asked both the provincial government and the local government of Angono to block Batong Angono Aggregates Corp (BAAC) from carrying out the plan.
She said the plan ran counter the goal of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to plant about 1.5bn trees nationwide.
“I have written to (Angono) Mayor Gerry (Calderon), based on so many queries that we have received, that we will not allow (the felling of trees),” Ynares said.
She instructed Calderon to inspect the proposed quarry site together with other government officials. She said the government can issue environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) to mining applicants if the proposed quarry area is less than five hectares.
But the Times has learned that the BAAC area covers nearly 20 hectares of forest area.
Ynares also said she asked the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to meet on Monday and come up with a resolution that will require local governments in Rizal to refuse applications for ECC by any mining company. “We hope that we can come up with the resolution in about two weeks,” she added.
A group has been formed to oppose the plan of BAAC, a concessionaire of Lafarge Republic Inc (LRI), to cut the trees.
The Save 6400 Angono Trees Movement released a statement yesterday thanking the town’s residents who expressed indignation for the proposal of BAAC.
The group said BAAC’s proposed area for the expansion of its quarry operations—the company’s “north wall,” located in Barangay San Isidro, is the town’s “last remaining forest area.”
The group also “welcomed the decision by mayor Calderon and LRI officials to observe the status quo, which was to ‘temporarily suspend the cutting and earth balling of trees’” in the area.
“We trust in you that you will put in mind first the interest and general welfare of the Angono people, and not of the mining company which earns P5bn annually and which has benefited exponentially by flattening our mountains and mining our resources for the past 51 years,” the group said.
It also asked the town’s residents to “remain vigilant…as we demand transparency and accountability from our local and provincial officials on BAAC’s request.”
It demanded that public consultation should be held and representation from the citizens should be allowed to review and monitor the status of BAAC’s request.
