Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is seeking the enactment into law of a bill that would mandate insurance coverage of environmentally critcally projects (ECPs) in the country.

Go said it is the duty of the government to ensure the quality of life of its people throught the protectioin of the environment that they live in.

“Proteksyunan natin ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa (Let’s protect our country’s future). Environmental protection must be prioritized in order to also protect our future,” Go said in filing Senate Bill No. 1189.

Aside from natural disasters, the senator pointed out there have been various instances of man-made environmental damages in the country.

Go cited the marcopper mining disaster in Marinduque and the illegal logging activities in Cagayan Valley that led to a massive flooding in the region during Typhoon Ulysses.

“Napakalaking halaga po na mabigyan natin ng pansin ang mga isyu na ito dahil dito po tayo kumukuha ng ating mga pangangailangan at dahil ito po mismo ang nagbibigay ng buhay sa ating lahat (It’s very important that we give attention issues like these because we get our everyday resources from the environment),” he stressed.

The bill specifically seeks the creation of a national framework for Mandatory Environmental Insurance Coverage (MEIC) which all owners and operators of ECPs are required to secure.

The bill also seeks to ensure sufficient funding coverage for the restoration and compensation of any adverse environmental consequences which include damage to health and property, and costs for environmental rehabilitation, remediation, cleanup, and other environmental impairments arising from their operations.

Included in the ECPs must be heavy industries, major manufacturing industries, major resource-extractive industries, major infrastructure projects, and other similar projects that could pose serious risks to people and the environment.

Once passed into law, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) chief shall establish and head an Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC), with the Commissioner of the Insurance Commission and representatives of the insurance industry, the mining industry, and other stakeholders that the DENR may deem fit, as members.

Under the law, the IATC will identify the perils or possible negative environmental impacts, activities, processes or undertakings; conduct risk assessment to determine the appropriate insurance coverage for different ECPs and activities; and formulate guidelines for the identification of primary impact areas and prescription of rehabilitation or remediation environmental damages; among others.

On the other hand, owners and operators of ECPs would not be allowed to start construction or commercial operation without obtaining the MEIC required under the proposed measure.

Owners and operators of an ECP shall be subjected to penalty fees if they fail to do so. Government officials, employees, and agents who approve the construction or operation of ECPs without the necessary MEIC shall, likewise, face penalty charges.