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Group accuses DENR secretary of gambling fishers’ lives
to please ‘Korean spa firm’ in Taal Volcano
“ECC granted to Jung Ang, a death warrant”- Pamalakaya

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday accused Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of gambling the lives of more than 10,000 fishermen in Taal Lake by allowing a South Korean firm to construct a resort spa at the foot of Taal Volcano.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Secretary should be held liable if something devastating happen to fisherfolk and farmers cause by volcanic eruptions as a result of the ongoing construction of resort spa by South Korean firm Jung Ang Interventure Inc.

“Secretary Reyes has issued a wholesale death warrant to thousands of small fishermen and farmers when he granted the Korean firm the environmental compliance certificate and approved the construction of the most ambitious eco-tourism spa at the foot of Taal Volcano, which is bound to explode in gigantic proportions if the construction of the spa is not stopped,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) on Sunday recommended a stop of the ongoing construction of structures for the resort spa, saying it has recorded eight eruptions since of the active volcano since the South Korean firm started building the resort spa.

Also yesterday, Secretary Reyes announced that he will order a review of the ECC awarded to Jung Ang but remained uncommitted whether he would order a cease and desist order this week, a news report said.

“Secretary Reyes should revoke the ECC and tell Jung Ang to pack up and leave the place. That’s the right step to do. Is the DENR chief waiting for Taal Volcano’s explosion to gigantic proportions before he says its’ enough?. If that is the case, then that’s very, very ridiculous and grossly insulting,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

Earlier, militant groups led by Pamalakaya-Timog Katagalugan (Pamalakaya-TK), Pamalakaya-Batangas, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Samahan ng Mga Mamamayan sa Taal (SAMATAAL) and Samahan ng mga Mangingisda, Magsasaka at Mangangabayo (SAMABAYO) held a two-day fluvial protest in Taal Lake last June 23-24 to protest the construction of resort spa.

The same groups are planning to have a repeat of the fluvial protest in the second week of July if the construction continues and the DENR fails to stop Jung Ang from “destroying and catching the ire of Taal Volcano.

The groups said it remains a mystery why a foreign company was able to obtain the right to own the portion of the land located at the foot of Taal Lake because the 1987 Constitution bans any foreigner to own land in the Philippines.

The groups also wondered by Jung Ang Interventure Inc. was able to secure an ECC from the DENR when Taal Volcano and the rest of its surroundings were declared part of the permanent danger zone and any diggings may cause the active volcano to erupt.

“Secretary Reyes has a lot of explaining to do why his office granted the ECC to Jung Ang despite the fact that any extraordinary activity in Taal Volcano is strictly prohibited by the natural law of science, the natural law of the environment and even existing laws and jurisprudence,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 00:53 | link | comments |

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