Resolving Cultural Heritage Issues of Development Projects through the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System

Abstract

Cultural heritage issues have been 8 major source of conflict in development pmjects involving exploitation of natural resources in the Philippines. Drawing from the Philippine National Oil Company Energy Development CorporationÆs experience in its Mindanao Geothermal Pmject (MGP), this paper makes a strong case for integrating the process of resolving cukural heritage issues into the existing Philippine Environmental Impact (EIS) system. It is shown that during the project review, cultural heritage issues were raised in conjunction with other social and environmental issues and were addressed fhmugh the conflict resolution process inherent within the Philippine EIS system, even as clear government rules on the issues were not yet available. The present laws and regulations governing cultural heritage issues in the Philippines have all benefited from the MIGP expehnce. The requirements under these new laws can be subsumed within the EIS fmmework.