DENR Sec. Cimatu tells IP community in OrMin: Your concerns on hydroelectric power project ‘won’t fall on deaf ears’

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu assured the indigenous peoples of Oriental Mindoro that their concerns about a hydroelectric power project will not “fall on deaf ears.”

The Mangyan community expressed concerns about the Santa Clara International Corp. (SCIC) that is constructing a hydroelectric power plant in barangay Malvar in the town of Naujan.

The operations may allegedly cause harm to the environment and endanger the lives of nearby residents.

“Your plea does not, and would not fall on deaf ears,” Cimatu assured the Mangyans belonging to the Alangan tribe.

Cimatu met with Mangyan elders and village leaders at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) on August 3 together with other officials of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

The environment chief vowed taht the concerns raised by the Mangyan communities will be acted upon by the DENR and other concerned government agencies.

“As you can see, the DENR, including the EMB and MGB, wasted no time to come here to listen to your thoughts and know further about your situation,” Cimatu said during the consultation meeting.

“I took note of your concerns, which I will present in the next Cabinet meeting. We will coordinate with concerned agencies to draw up immediate measures,” he added.

The consultation meeting was also attended by Governor Alfonso Umali, Calapan City Vice Mayor Gil Ramirez, and representatives from the PENRO, Philippine National Police and Philippine Army.