We live in a threatened planet. Centuries of use and misuse of the earth’s resources have taken a toll on developed and developing countries alike. Man is faced with scepters like denuded forests, chemical pollution especially in the cities, the draining of fossil oil and other non-renewable resources, and, yes, climate change and its dreaded consequences.
Since Supertyphoon Yolanda brought widespread devastation in many parts of the country, the Philippines has been among the frontline nations against climate change. The country has taken on a higher profile among developing countries in climate change negotiations.
Philippine households have been segregating trash, recycling materials, managing waste. Businesses have begun to observe green manufacturing and business practices.
Among the strategies being used by government to promote environment-friendly practices among the business community is the environmental compliance certificate or the ECC.
What is the ECC
Any project in the Philippines that poses a potential environmental risk or impact (such as mining, agriculture projects, chemical, and construction) is required to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Board (DENR-EMB).
An ECC is issued by DENR-EMB after a positive review of the project’s application. This certificate indicates that the proposed project or undertaking will not cause a significantly negative impact on the Philippine environment.
The ECC contains specific measures and conditions that must be met by the project proponent before and during the operation of the project. In some cases, conditions are listed to be performed during the project’s abandonment phase to lessen identified potential environmental impacts.
An ECC also certifies that the proponent has complied with all the requirements of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System and has committed to implement its approved environmental management plan.
Requirements to secure an ECC
The following are the requirements for applying for an ECC:
• Letter of request to DENR-EMB stating desire to receive ECC;
• Project Description, indicating raw materials to be used and process or manufacturing technology to be implemented;
• Estimated project capacity, type and volume of products and discharges; and
• Proof of possession of necessary capital for proposed project, namely: location map of project area and manpower requirements.
Procedures
Applicants for an ECC go through the following steps:
• Conduct Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan;
• Submit application letter to DENR-EMB for review and subsequent site inspection;
– Approval and ECC is issued if all requirements are satisfied and no apparent serious environmental damage shall result from the project
– In cases where DENR-EMB finds that an ECC is not applicable, a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) shall be issued confirming that the proposed project is not part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and poses no environmental threat.
Photo: From gogreenplus.org