Lessons from Eia for Bicol River Development in Philippines

Abstract

Beginning in 1975, the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) embarked on a plan to develop the Rinconada area by providing integrated projects for rural development. Environmental studies were done, but largely in response to procedural requirements of the U.S. Agency for International Development; the Philippine environmental impact statement requirements were not taken seriously. The resulting environmental assessment was inadequate and failed to predict negative impacts that followed project implementation, particularly construction of the Lake Buhi regulation project. The controversy caused by the adverse effects necessitated follow‐on environmental studies and engineering works and enhanced the BRBDP's appreciation of environmental impact assessment as a practical planning tool.