Erosion mitigating measures at 80% complete in Donggwang construction site

Thursday 12th of July 2012

CLARK FREEPORT, July 12 (PIA) -- The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has announced that erosion mitigating measures being utilized at the construction site of Donggwang Clark Corp.’s $400-million tourism estate here is nearing completion.

CDC Environment Management Department (EMD) Manager Juan Miguel B. Fuentes made the announcement during the awarding of plaques of recognition to CDC’s partners in the preservation of the environment inside the Clark Freeport.

Fuentes said the status of the erosion mitigating measures being undertaken at the construction site is now at around 80 percent, adding that the engineering methodologies employed by the South Korean firm’s team has been cited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

Fuentes said EMB Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio was impressed with the strict compliance of Donggwang to environmental laws. Claudio also added that the South Korean firm has, likewise, secured and complied with all the necessary permits required in the construction of its $400-million tourism estate here.

In March this year, Donggwang officials and CDC executives led the inauguration of the projects Tower 1 and 2. This was followed by the groundbreaking rites for the construction a $200-million golf clubhouse.

The clubhouse is part of Donggwang Clark Corp.’s $400-million tourism estate that includes leisure and recreation facilities inside its 304-hectare lease here.

Donggwang Clark, the Philippine subsidiary of Donggwang Construction, expects to complete the world class estate in 2016.

The project consists of a 36-hole golf course, clubhouse, 330-room condominium, water park, spa and gymnasium, ecopark, business center, international school, golf academy and driving range, medical clinic and drug store, hotel, casino, 500-unit villa and a shopping arcade.

Fuentes also said the erosion mitigating measures at the construction site involves the bulldozing of rocks at the tip of a nearby mountain, which had a “risky overhang.”

To remove the overhang, the firm’s engineers used the “gravity method,” an engineering methodology used to scrape and push small portions of the mountain and let the rocks fall to seek a stable slope or angle of repose.

Once the overhang is eliminated, Fuentes said the area will be treated to combined hydroseeding and coconet reinforcement to prevent soil erosion. He also downplayed apprehensions that trees were destroyed during the construction phase.

“The construction site is on top of a rock formation where it is impossible for trees to grow,” Fuentes said.

This was confirmed by EMB Environmental Management Officer Elisa Dimaliwat, who said Donggwang has complied with environmental laws and guidelines.

“Donggwang Clark Project has an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the EMB-Central Office last May 5, 2011, and has an active Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT), which has been regularly meeting, latest of which was held only last July 6,” Dimaliwat said.

She added that “Donggwang also has a full time Pollution Control Officer (PCO) accredited by EMB as required by DENR laws.”

Once completed, the Donggwang project would employ more than 2,000 workers and expand tourism and economic activities in Central Luzon. Donggwang Construction, one of South Korea’s largest construction companies, has total assets of 1.2 trillion won or around $945 million.

It owns and operates the Sorak Sun Valley Country Club, Dongwon Sun Valley Country Club, Iljuk Sun Valley Country Club, and Japan-based Yabe Country Club. (CLJD with reports from Clark Development Corporation)