THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has streamlined the process for acquiring environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) for projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

“Maraming na-delay na projects (Many projects have been delayed) because of clearances. Nagkakaroon ng (There is) red tape. Iyon ’yung gustong iwasan ngayon ni (That is what) Secretary (Roy A.) Cimatu (wants to avoid)… para ma-push itong (to push) ‘Build, Build, Build’ program,” DENR Undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda said in a telephone interview.

Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-16, dated Nov. 6, the whole process for securing an ECC for flagship infrastructure projects should be completed in 20 days, from 40 days previously.

“The EMB (Environmental Management Bureau) Central Office shall process the ECC applications of Environmentally Critical Projects filed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Bases Conversion and Development Authority within 20 working days,” the order read, adding that “[t]he official acceptance of the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement)/EPRMP (Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan) marks the start of the ECC processing time frame.”

Moreover, instead of having two public hearings, only one will be conducted, which should be done by the 11th working day from acceptance of application documents.

A team will also be formed which will prioritize review and evaluation of ECC applications of projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

The government has been looking for ways to speed up permit and other processes for flagship projects. On Dec. 2, for example, the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 57-2019, which revoked RMO 12-2015, removing some requirements for contractors to get their final payments for infrastructure projects.

The government announced early in November that it had increased it flagship infrastructure projects to 100 from 75, and the number of public-private partnership (PPP) projects on that list to 26 from nine, thus raising the proportion of PPP projects to a total to 26% from 12%. It expects 56 of these projects to be completed by 2022, when President Rodrigo R. Duterte ends his six-year term. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

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