DENR revokes ECCs of Century Communities Corp. for La Mesa Watershed housing project

By Weng C. Ocfemia

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has rejected the appeal of property developer, Cen­tury Communities Corporation and totally cancelled the En­vironment Compliance Certificate (ECC) for its housing proj­ect at La Mesa Watershed.

DENR Secretary Gina Lopez said that the watershed is the source of water for 12 million Filipinos living in Metro Manila.

Lopez said building a housing project at a 58-hectare property on top of the watershed will endanger the water source as this can pollute the water.

“If you put up any housing subdivision there inside the forest, that would go down to the reservoir and the water com­panies are not equipped to handle the household wastes,” Lo­pez explained, adding “Our decision is based on the principle of social justice and the common good. Our Constitution is anchored on social justice and the common good. Protecting our watershed and environment is for the common good.”

The DENR has recommended that it would be best for the interest of the public to just make the watershed as a source of water supply instead of making it a housing project of the MWSS.

The watershed has a total area of 2,700 hectares.