By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, Philippines — An environmental group has renewed its criticism of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) over the issuance of tree-cutting permits to mining companies, particularly the Berong Nickel Project in Palawan.
Environmental Legal Assistance Center (Elac) executive director Grizelda Mayo-Anda said the group has long opposed the issuance of such permits despite laws protecting Palawan’s forests and natural resources, particularly Republic Act No. 7611, or the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan (SEP) Act.
Mayo-Anda said Elac has repeatedly cited Section 9 of the SEP Act, which mandates the maximum protection of old-growth forests.
“That’s specific to Palawan. And it is the only province in the country where natural forests—whether old-growth or secondary forests—are covered,” she told the Inquirer in an interview on Monday.
