Press Release
April 6, 2008

Zubiri : Senate Housing Committee to investigate Hanjin, SBMA
Paper trail of permits cannot cover up environmental, zoning violations

“The paper trail of permits and licenses cannot cover up violations by Hanjin and SBMA officials,” said Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday as he called for a Senate inquiry on the environmental and zoning and issues plaguing the $20 Million Hanjin condominiums in Subic.

“The web of violations eat away at our territorial sovereignty which cannot be replaced by monetary considerations. Subic is not just a piece of expensive real estate,” Zubiri said as he called for the investigation of Hanjin and dismissal of Subic Bay Management Authority and Department of Environment and Natural Resources officials who allowed the destruction of the Subic rainforest.

Zubiri, chairman of the Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement said he would investigate complaints “on Hanjin’s discriminatory housing policy against Filipinos including tribal communities and which Hanjin relocated to Barrios Agusuhin and Nagyantoc in inferior structures and danger zones.” The law requires Hanjin to resettle families displaced by their operations in the ecozone. Reports of substandard houses and schoolbuildings for the displaced families were also taken up by a non-government organization Task Force Hanjin.

On Senator Gordon’s revelation that the Hanjin condos site was a former ammunitions and explosives testing area, Zubiri said an investigation is needed.

“If the place is fit to house Koreans or any human being should be determined as toxic exposure in ammunitions and explosives testing areas are known to cause cancers and various illnesses around the world. A review of the ecological, safety and public health issues raised by,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri warned, “we could all be liable if we allow human habitation" whether as workers housing or as hotel accepting foreign guests - in a toxic contaminated area if the area is confirmed to be an ammunitions depot and explosives test site. It may have to be declared as an off-limits area for human habitation.”

“Subic is a precious habitat and natural resource, not a mere piece of expensive real estate. Whether it be for a hotel or for ex-pats housing,” Zubiri commented.

“These $20-Million two-tower concrete blocks are shot with environmental violations. First, they cut off trees from a long-standing forest. Next, this encroachment threatens the health of the Subic watershed system serving our brother Filipinos living outside the gates in Olongapo City, not just the economic zone. Destruction to habitat and threat to biodiversity are also clear.”

“They have overstepped their authority and should be investigated. Had its Ecology Department now turned into a rubber stamp of environmental violators?”

“The destruction of the lush rainforest is such a dastardly act in this time of water crisis. Americans in the former military base enjoyed good drinking water because they cared for the forests. It’s so ironic. Before the Americans left, we Filipinos were crying foul because of the toxic legacy they dumped into the bay and some of its hills. The toxic legacy had killed and caused many to be sick. Now, here we are regaining control of this valuable territory, but shamelessly giving foreigners the license to destroy it.”

Zubiri explained that Olongapo City’s old water source " the Sta. Rita river has been destroyed and contaminated by this same type of activities that “started with wanton cutting of trees to make way for various constructions. Later on, untreated sewage flows and leaching from garbage dumps poisoned the river.”

“I clearly recall that years ago Korean engineers hired to build the 75-meter Subic-Tipo express tunnel worked closely with officials and environmentalists in SBMA. They so carefully and consciously designed it so the tunnel would not negatively impact the flora and fauna. The tunnel was built in such a way that deers and other small mammals would not be threatened and detached from their habitats and range.”

“That’s why this hotel in the midst of the thick forest so evidently and blatantly threatens the habitat and range of monkeys, deers and birds, among other wildlife.”

“The clearing of trees that’s now a bald spot in the middle of lush forest released tons of Carbon into the atmosphere that will speed up global warming. In case they have forgotten, the former Subic military base is part of the country’s patrimony. Not a fiefdom of managers. They are the ones that should discern the proper use and stop the abuse of Subic’s resources.”

Zubiri said the Zoobic safari and marine parks are “in danger of turning into pretentious window dressing for environmental crimes being done with license inside Subic.”

He reminded responsible authorities that Hanjin “has yet to be investigated on labor violations and neglect of occupational safety measures in its $1.65 Billion shipbuilding and port operations. We must not allow Hanjin to feel smug it can get away with crimes and can violate our laws with impunity.”

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