A call for Strict and Fair Implementation of Environmental Penalties

A call for Strict and Fair Implementation of Environmental Penalties

The law is the law and nobody is supposed to be above the law. But based on what I heard through the grapevine, DENR is selective and lenient on certain companies who violated our environmental laws. Some companies were spared from fines and penalties just because they are influential companies or personalities.

I am referring to the article published by Ducky Paredes last March 15, 2013. Here is an excerpt of that article:

"The DENR, DOLE and the provincial government under Acting Leyte Gov. Mimiette Bagulaya, have yet to investigate possible labor and environment law violations by EDC that killed 14 workers and injured so many others after two weeks of rains. This is actually not surprising since the EDC facility is at the center of a “red zone” in the 2006 Geohazard Map of the DENR.

(A “red zone” is a high-risk area vulnerable to landslides.)

The workers were hired by JE/A Arradaza Construction, the subcontractor of First Balfour for civil works in the EDC geothermal complex. EDC and its general contractor, First Balfour."

Excerpt of Janette Toral's article from http://www.influentialblogger.net/2013/03/edc-philex-semirara-fairness-and.html 

"The perceived slow response from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (who just finished its investigation) or Pollution Adjudication Board makes me wonder how come the landslide that happened in a coal mining pit on Semirara Island immediately benefited action from the Department of Energy, on orders of President Benigno Aquino III for an immediate suspension of Semirara Coal and Mining Company."

What the heck is happening right now? Do some companies get special treatment? If this is true, then we can definitely say that our government lacks the political will to implement fair mining penalties and impose sanctions on companies that violate environmental laws whether intentionally or through negligence.  As in "may tinitingnan at may tinititigan ba talaga sila?" That is so sad if it is true.

In my own humble opinion, the government should be fair in adopting adequate measures to safeguard and conserve land, mineral, marine and forest resources. It should not be a slap on the wrist to some and heavy blow to others.The penalties meted out by the courts for those caught violating the mining laws in the past are stiff. And I commend the DENR and the courts for that. Didn’t the DENR order the Philex Mining be shut down for almost a year because of the accidental tailings pond leak in Padcal, Benguet?

And wasn’t Philex fined over P1 billion by the DENR?

What is lamentable is the veritable slap on the wrist penalties meted by the government on some companies. These provide absolutely no form of deterrence to future environment destruction.

The government must remember that what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.