The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a show cause order to Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC) regarding its tree-cutting operations despite their environmental compliance certificate (ECC) being suspended.
Reports said INC cut around 7,000 trees in 30 hectares out 353 hectares of land covered by the firm’s mineral production sharing agreement with the DENR.
However, its one-year tree cutting permit issued on May 26, 2016 was only in effect until December 14, 2016, when former DENR Chief Gina Lopez ordered the cancellation of INC’s ECC.
The DENR delivered the order on Tuesday, May 23 and told the mining firm it had until Wednesday, May 24 to respond.
The order dated May 17 was signed by DENR-Mimaropa Regional Director Natividad Bernardino. It read that INC “made brushing, clearing and cutting of trees using axes and unregistered chainsaws.”
This was reported by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Brooke’s Point in Palawan.
The firm’s acts are “contrary to the law and sufficient ground to file criminal complaint in a court of law,” Bernardino said.
The show cause order was filed after DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu asked for a full investigation in the company’s violations after he conducted an aerial inspection of INC’s site in Palawan.
