MORE NEWS, LA UNION

CA junks cease order vs Poro Point operator
BY JERRY PADILLA

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Ninth Division of the Court of Appeals has junked the cease and desist order issued by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources stopping the Poro Point Industrial Corp. from operating the Poro Point Special Economic Zone here for alleged violations of environmental laws.

The appellate court, in an 18-page ruling, also invalidated the Philippine Ports Authority’s authority to take over operations of Poro Point.

The CA agreed with PPIC’s argument that the cease and desist order issued by the DENR was baseless and highly irregular.

“Indeed, the issuance of the cease and desist order stumbled and fell every step of the way,” it said. “Not only were the grounds for the issuance therefore patently baseless. They also violated basic tenets of due process. Worse, the haste, nay the lightning speed by which the said order was issued, is highly questionable.”

The CA said there was neither a formal complaint nor concrete proof to back up the alleged environmental violations of the PPIC.

While respondent Joel Salvador, regional director of DENR-Environmental Management Bureau, based his order on two inspections in June 1996, the CA said there was nothing in the inspection reports which attributed any environmental violations to the PPIC.

The CA also junked the DENR’s claim the PPIC operated without an environmental compliance certificate, saying an ECC had already been issued for the ecozone and Freeport when it was still being managed by John Hay Poro Point Development Corp., now the Poro Point Management Corp.


Ilocos infraprojects done
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Vital multi-million peso infrastructure projects in Ilocos are now finished boost business.

Department of Public Works and Highways Region I Director Fidel D. Ginez said major infra works in his region include bridges and rehabilitation of national roads which are in line with the objectives of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. towards the benefit of the people.

Ginez said the Calvo bridge in Bayambang, Pangasinan worth P50 million is already 100 percent complete through the supervision of Ilocos Sur 2nd District Engineer Ray Elaydo.

He added rehabilitation of the Sinait national road in Ilocos Sur has been accomplished with the allocation of P15 million under District Engineer Andrelito Tagorda.

In San Fernando City, La Union, the construction of the San Fernando – San Juan bypass road is almost completed which will bring convenience and comfort to the motorists going north.

Ginez said that all of these said infra projects have been constructed with quality output for the welfare of the public.

"It has been our commitment to build good bridges and roads for our constituents and if there will be any complaint our office is open or text it to 2920," he said.