THE cutting of thousands of trees in Brooke’s Point, Palawan, has pertinent permit issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. (FNI) said.
Dante Bravo, president of FNI, said the company’s affiliate, Ipilan Nickel Corp. (INC)—which operates in Brooke’s Point—was issued a special tree-cutting and earth-balling permit last year.
“We would like to put on record that its affiliate, Ipilan Nickel Corp. has the necessary special tree-cutting permit and earth-balling permit issued by the DENR for its operations in the province of Palawan. INC upholds faithful compliance with the law and adheres to sustainable development,” he said.
Bravo issued the statement in reaction to allegations made by the mayor of Brooke’s Point that INC has been cutting trees illegally.
At a news conference together with former Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez in Quezon City on Tuesday, Mayor Mary Jean D. Feliciano said the company has no permit for such activities.
She said heavily armed security guards are securing company personnel as they cut trees using chain saws. The tree-cutting activities, she said, has so far affected close to 100 hectares.
The official expressed alarm over its potential environmental impact, especially on water bodies.
In February Lopez issued an order cancelling 75 mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) of mining companies targeting areas within or near watersheds to protect the country’s water sources.
The canceled MPSAs include that of six companies in Quezon, Espanola, Narra and Quezon, and three in Brooke’s Point.