DENR confirms lack of ECC for Smokey Mountain Waste-to-Energy project

• The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) confirmed that the Manila Integrated Environmental Corporation (MIEC) has not yet secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for its proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project in Smokey Mountain.
• Despite the lack of required permits, residents and activists report that heavy machinery, excavation, and fencing activities are already underway on the project site.
• Community members and the Manila Anti-Incinerator Alliance (MAIA) are demanding an immediate cease-and-desist order, citing violations of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.

Regulatory Violations and Community Impact

• Under DENR AO 2019-21, project proponents must secure an ECC, Permit to Operate (PTO), and other legal clearances before initiating construction or operation.
• Pre-construction activities without permits threaten local urban poor communities and violate protections under the Urban Development and Housing Act.
• Local residents in Brgy 128 have raised concerns regarding the sudden appearance of heavy machinery and construction fencing without public disclosure or formal project approval.

Corporate Accountability and Transparency

• The project is proposed by MIEC, a subsidiary of Phil Ecology Systems Corporation (Phileco), which has previously faced criticism for environmental non-compliance at the Navotas landfill.
• Critics argue that the proponent is using a "land restoration" project as a deceptive front to bypass environmental regulations for the WTE facility.
• The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) has highlighted a lack of public transparency, noting that project contracts and documents are inaccessible to the public.
• Advocacy groups are calling for all relevant project documents to be published and translated into Filipino to ensure affected communities can fully understand the proposal.

MAIA's Demands

• Uphold the national ban on incineration as mandated by the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Air Act.
• Immediately cease forced evictions and guarantee on-site, in-city housing for residents.
• End all intimidation, unauthorized fencing, and harassment by private security and local personnel.