EMB denies stopping applications for Western Visayas waterway projects
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), denied suspending approvals for waterway projects in Western Visayas region.
“This is to inform the public that the EMB Region 6 is yet to receive any instruction from the EMB Central Office on the suspension of processing of Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) contrary what has been circulating in the media,” the EMB Region 6 said in a public advisory.
A CNC exempts projects deemed not to have a significant environmental impact from securing an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC).
A recent report from an Iloilo-based newspaper claimed that EMB suspended approval of CNCs in the region, after former Mayor Jerry Treñas and his daughter, incumbent Mayor Raisa Treñas, questioned the CNCs for ongoing waterway projects in Iloilo City.
Among the CNCs being questioned by the Treñases were various flood mitigation structures, waterways rehabilitation, and coastal protection projects.
They also questioned the CNC for a multi-purpose building in Jaro District as well as a bike lane project.