Why Were Watchdogs Shut Out of Silver Palms?

Here’s what the opposition wants to know, why were watchdog groups shut out of the Silver Palms approval process? Earlier today, Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai explained, and his answer sheds light on how this development got the green light. Mai says it all comes down to the process.

 

Isani Cayetano

“Why were NGOs on the National Environmental Appraisal Committee, not informed?”

 

On the phone: Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer

“Because the Limited Level Study process does not include the requirement of NEAC to review the project. It’s a subset of NEAC and it includes government agencies that have some level of permitting authority over some aspects of the project. So, in this case, we invited the Forest Department to look at any issue in relation to impacts to mangroves. We invited the Fisheries Department to look at any possible impact on fisheries and marine issues. We invited the Lands Department to because it is a subdivision and the permit agency for subdivision is the Lands Department. We also invited the Mining Unit in relation to materials to construct roads, etc., and the Department of the Environment, obviously. The core purpose of the Limited Level Study is for us to understand what the potential negative impacts would be and how to mitigate those impacts if they are mitigatable. I think five agencies looking at a project like this is, in my opinion, suitable. So the Fisheries Department had some concerns because the project sits adjacent to a marine protected area and the way how decisions are made in these projects is not by consensus. So, every single agency doesn’t have to agree and the idea is that if a majority of the agencies agree then we move forward. Well, the recommendation is made to the DOE and whatever the recommendation is, normally, we would accept and move forward with it.”