Albay province mulls creation of task force for coal extraction

The Albay provincial government is setting its sights to create a task force that will address issues concerning the impact of coal extraction to the environment.

Just yesterday, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the provincial government and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) met to tackle the new Memorandum of Agreement with the concerned departments in Albay regarding the creation of the Albay Coal Task Force (ACTF).

The province said that the new agreement is still in draft form but the meeting zeroed in on the duties and responsibilities of the ACTF.

“While the memorandum is still in draft and subject to revisions, the conference with the involved parties tackled the agreement on the composition, objectives, functions, jurisdiction, terms, conditions, and shared responsibilities with the ACTF,” the province said.

The Albay province said that the proposed task force will be mandated to handle issues on coal extraction and its effect to the environment.

“The proposed ACTF will have the responsibility of addressing the pressing concerns of the impacts of coal extraction, transport, and utilization to the environment and take fast action to any concern regarding the extraction, use, and transport, either inland or coastal, of coal,” the province said.

“ACTF is also tasked to monitor the mandate of each agency and be in charge of inspection/investigation in the event that an incident happens or complaints from stakeholders arise,” it added.

The province also said that the ACTF will have four committees, namely committees on extraction and use, coastal transport, ports, and inland transports.

The draft memorandum also established the functions and jurisdictions of the committees.