Residents of Taytay, Rizal filed a complaint against the public scoping for the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project Phase II on July 14. According to them, it was violated due process.
According to the Alliance of People's Organizations in Lupang Arenda (APOLA) and Samahan ng Mangingisda sa Lawa ng Taytay (SMALT), they filed a complaint with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to stop the project. They were also joined by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) and other affected residents who appeared at the meeting.
Residents claimed that the public scoping was invalid from the start due to violation of the guidelines of DENR Administrative Orders 2017-15 and 2003-20 and the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System. The PMCJ said that despite a private meeting, the people's grievances were not listened to and the scoping still proceeded.
APOLA President Enteng Vicente Barlos added that the public scoping was conducted in an area that was not covered by the project, causing confusion among residents. They called on government agencies to follow the law and respect their rights.
The LLRN project aims to improve connectivity, reduce traffic, and boost the economy in Calabarzon and NCR. But for residents, the right process must first be established before the project can proceed.
