CENTER FOR ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT

AND DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATED

c/o Atty. Avril De Torres
18-A Marunong Street, Barangay Central, Quezon City 1100

174 July 2020

DR. SEVILLO D. DAVID, JR., CESO III

Executive Director
National Water Resources Board
8th Floor, NIA Building
EDSA, Diliman
Quezon City 1101

ATTY. ELENITO M. BAGALIHOG

Chief
Water Rights Division
National Water Resources Board
8th Floor, NIA Building
EDSA, Diliman
Quezon City 1101

MARY JANE L. DOMINGUEZ

Head
Permit Section
National Water Resources Board
8th Floor, NIA Building
EDSA, Diliman
Quezon City 1101

Re: Request for certified true copies of Water Permit/s issued to Atimonan One
Energy, Inc.

Dear Sirs and Madam:

I hope this letter finds you well and safe amidst our trying times..

This is with regard to Atimonan One Energy, Inc.’s (A1E) Atimonan Coal-Fired Power Plant
Project in Atimonan. I write this letter on behalf of the Center for Energy, Environment, and
Development Incorporated (CEED), Monsignor Noel Villareal, Fr. Warren Puno, Reynaldo
Upalda and other concerned residents and homeowners in of the Municipality of Atimonan
Municipality and Quezon Province, who have been experiencing water shortage believe that this
project poses great risks to their health, livelihoods, and fresh water supply.since xxx.
According to Presidential Decree No. 1067, also known as the Water Code, water shall be
appropriated through a water right as evidenced by a document known as a Water Permit. 1
Additionally, any person who desires to obtain a Water Permit shall file an application with your
office, the National Water Resources Board.2 In line with this, information posted in your
website shows that Water Permit No. 024404, with ground water as source type and deepwell as
water source, was issued to A1E.

In view of the foregoing, we respectfully request for two (2) certified true copies of the
aforementioned water permit and/or any other water permits that were also issued to A1E
accordingly in the past years. This request is made on behalf of the aforementioned groups and
individuals whoas residents and homeowners within the area of A1E’s coal plant project are
experiencing water shortage, for . This request is also made for the purpose ofthe protection ofng
their rights and interests, and for the of stakeholders and institution of itiating proper legal
actions, if necessary.

Moreover, we hinge this request on the bases of the policy of the State for full public disclosure
of all its transactions involving public interest under Article II, Section 28 of the 1987
Constitution;3 our right to information on matters of public concern under Article III, Section 7
of the 1987 Constitution;4 and your legal mandate to provide reasonable assistance, free of
charge, to comply with our request under Executive Order No. 2, s. 2016 or the People’s
Freedom of Information.5 In line with the Anti-Red Tape Act, as amended by the Ease of Doing
Business Act and Efficient Delivery of Government Services of 2018, 6 we will respectfully wait
for your favorable action within three (3) days from receipt of this letter.

We trust that you will act favorably on this request.

Very truly yours,

ATTY. AVRIL DE TORRES

1
Presidential Decree No. 1067, Article 13, par. 1.
2
Ibid. at , Article 16, par.1.
3
Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 28.
4
Philippine Constitution, Article III, Section 7.
5
Executive Order No. 2, series of 2016, Operationalizing In The Executive Branch The People’s
Constitutional Right To Information And The State Policies To Full Public Disclosure And Transparency
In The Public Service And Providing Guidelines Therefor [People’s Freedom of Information].
6
Republic Act No. 11032, An Act Promoting Ease Of Doing Business And Efficient Delivery Of
Government Services, Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 9485, Otherwise Known As The Anti-
Red Tape Act Of 2007, And For Other Purposes, [Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government
Service Delivery Act of 2018], 24 July 2018.