SC junks Writ of Kalikasan petition vs. construction of 600-mw power plant in Subic

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MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) en banc has dismissed for insufficiency of evidence the petition for writ of kalikasan against the construction and operation of a 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant project of the Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy), in Subic, Zambales.

With a 13-0 voting, the SC reversed and set aside the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) dated Jan.

30, 2013 and and resolution dated May 22, 2013 nullifying the “Environmental Compliance Certificate” (ECC) and “Lease Development Agreement” for the project, respectively.

Because of the SC unanimous ruling, there is no more legal stumbling block in the construction of the power plant.

The SC said that the CA erred in its decision, hence, the SC granted the appeal of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), RP Energy and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje.

The writ of kalikasan petition against the said project was filed last July 2012 by former Bayan Muna party-list Rep.

Teddy Casino and the group, “No-to-Coal”.