EMB: City hall grounds project needs no ECC

By Jho Arranz

BAGUIO CITY – The controversy over repair of city grounds here had an added twist with regional director Maria Dorica envirenviHipe of Environmental Management Bureau saying the project was not covered by Presidential Decree 15-86.

In effect, the city government is not required to apply for the Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC), Dorica told the city council in Monday’s deliberation.

The project had been opposed by concerned residents who said ongoing improvement of city hall grounds would destroy the area as historical site. 

Engineer Benjamin Ventura said the project is within Proclamation 62, proclaiming the area as city hall site.

As to participation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in adaption and identification of historical sites in the city, lawyer Renato Bestre stressed the DENR is not involved in identifying historical sites in the city.

The issue on metes and bounds of the city hall reservation that should be treated as historical site has not yet been determined.

While waiting for list of historical and heritage sites in the city with their corresponding resolutions, the council decided to invite representative from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts  to shed light on the issues.