ANTIQUE — The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6 has issued Notices of Violation (NOVs) against five road projects in Antique implemented by Sunwest, a contractor co-owned by resigned party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co.
On October 22, EMB-6 Regional Director Atty. Ramar Niel Pascua sent the notices to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Antique District Engineering Office, represented by Officer-in-Charge District Engineer De Bernabeth Betsy B. Uy.
The notices cited violations of Presidential Decree No. 1586, the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System, following a site investigation on August 27 to 28, 2025. EMB found that the projects were implemented without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), a violation of Section 4 of P.D. 1586 and Item 3.4.1 of EMB Memorandum Circular 2014-005, which requires ECCs for road projects over two kilometers.
The flagged projects include the 2.46-kilometer (km) road from Laua-an Ridge View to Aklan River Phase 1 (2023), 2.46 km from Barangay Jinalinan to Barangay Tabongtabong (2024), 2.46 km from Barangay Pandanan to Barangay Maybunga (2024), and ongoing roads from Barangay Poblacion to Barangay Magyapo (4.68 km) and Barangay Maybunga to Barangay San Ramon (2.5 km).
Pascua directed DPWH Antique to submit a notarized position paper within 15 days explaining why penalties of up to P50,000 per violation should not be imposed. Noncompliance would result in resolution based on available evidence.
More violations found in Valderrama; ECCs, CNCs revoked
EMB-6 also issued notices against five segments of the Panay East-West Lateral Road (PEWLR) in Valderrama, Antique, and Lambunao, Iloilo, under DPWH Region 6.
During an October 15 technical conference, proponents confirmed that sections previously covered by separate ECCs and Certificates of Non-Coverage (CNCs) were actually contiguous and part of a single project. EMB found violations for misrepresenting road lengths in Environmental Impact Assessment documents, noting that roads 20 km or longer — or 10 km with critical slopes — are classified as Environmentally Critical Projects requiring stricter EIA processing.
As a result, EMB-6 revoked the previously issued ECCs and CNCs and directed DPWH to reprocess the PEWLR requirements through the EMB Central Office.
Affected sections include Ubos, Tacas, and Pandan, Valderrama (5.804 km); Hipgos, Caguisanan, and Agsirab, Lambunao (5.538 km); Magbato, Sibacungan, Poblacion Ilaya, and Cayan Oeste, Lambunao (2.98 km); Caniguan, Hipgos, and Cabugao, Lambunao (1.689 km); and Misi, Tampucao, Bontoc, and Hipgos, Iloilo (3.075 km).
Environmental group: ‘EMB move a ‘critical first win,’ but investigation still needed’
Environmental group AMLIG Alliance Antique welcomed EMB-6’s action, calling it a “critical first win toward legal and ecological accountability,” but stressed that a full investigation is still needed.
AMLIG communication coordinator Ramil Martinez said a field visit to Laua-an on November 23 revealed extensive mountain clearing beyond what was shown on social media.
“Mountains have been carved out senselessly, and roads are being built where they already exist. It’s unnecessary and a waste of public funds,” he said in an interview with Panay News.
AMLIG reported that more than ten road projects in the Laua-an mountain corridor were approved by DPWH Antique without ECCs. The group also noted that the road alignments appear misaligned with the Provincial Land Use Plan and may serve to access gold deposits.
The group is urging the Ombudsman, the Independent Commission on Infrastructure, and the Department of Justice to investigate possible violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019), the Environmental Impact Statement System (P.D. 1586), and the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (R.A. 8371).
Possible violations against indigenous people’s rights
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is also investigating the impact of these projects on the Iraynon-Bukidnon Indigenous Cultural Community in Maybunga, Laua-an.
According to AMLIG, the road works have caused river siltation and farmland destruction. The projects allegedly proceeded without the required Certification Precondition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and without completing the mandatory Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process.
SP summons regional offices
On November 11, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Antique approved Resolution No. 681-2025, authored by Provincial Board member Karmila Rose Dimamay, requiring regional offices of EMB, NCIP, DPWH, and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development to appear on November 24 and brief the board on upland road construction activities.
Key projects under review include the 41-kilometer Panay East-West Lateral Road connecting Valderrama and Lambunao; the mountain road from Laua-an to the Aklan River in Tapaz, reportedly built without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in a landslide-prone area; and the mountain road linking Pandan, Antique to Ibajay, Aklan.
The SP also seeks updates on mining activities, including Walter Mining’s active permit from Laua-an to Tapaz, Premium Resources’ nearly 10,000-hectare exploration application in Laua-an, Bugasong, and Valderrama, and Calbayog Mining’s pending FTAA for the Pandan–Ibajay mountains.
Officials are expected to provide a comprehensive briefing on project status, environmental compliance, and inter-agency safeguards to ensure sustainable development and protect vulnerable ecosystems./PN
