Thursday, May 22, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
THE proposed entry of the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC) to the Mt. Kanlaon buffer zone for a 30-megawatt (MW) geothermal exploration, including the cutting of trees within, is legal, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) declared Monday.
In an energy forum at L'Fisher Hotel, DENR Western Visayas Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio cited Section 5 of Republic Act (RA) 9154 or the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP) Act of 2001, which she said, allows the possible entry of PNOC-EDC to the buffer zone.
The forum was attended by the pro and anti PNOC-EDC's entry to the buffer zone with Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Governor Isidro Zayco, mayors, board members and members of the media, among others.
Some vocal non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Negros advocating for the protection of the environment claimed that allowing PNOC-EDC's entry to the buffer zone is tantamount to a "suicide" on the part of the Negrenses.
This as Rusty Viñas of Green Alert Movement explained that "we have nothing more to give because our forest is already depleted and our watershed area is also in critical state since 1990."
"That's why for us, MKNP is non-negotiable for PNOC-EDC," Viñas stressed in his presentation.
Eleonor Cabanilla, representing the Visayas Integrated Power Consumers Organization (Vipco), also said that PNOC-EDC's proposal would cause the "massacre" of trees.
But Claudio clarified that the proposed geothermal exploration won't damage 7,000 but only 4,000 trees, contrary to what some Negros environmentalists are claiming.
"But the 4,000 trees will, of course, be replaced by more than 50,000 trees through PNOC-EDC's sustained reforestation projects," stressed Claudio, quoting their agency's survey in the area as well as her longtime experience as one of the specialists of the DENR's Environment Management Board (EMB) in Manila.
Claudio also clarified that Negros' remaining forest cover is still 13 to 15 percent and not three to four percent as claimed by Viñas.
Rei Medrano, PNOC-EDC's manager for Corporate Social Responsibility Department, said their foresters have identified which trees to be cut within the 12-hectare area inside the buffer zone where the proposed exploration would take place. "Trees to be cut have already been marked X."
Navarra, however, stressed he won't change his position in opposing PNOC-EDC entry to Kanlaon. "I came to this dialogue as a friend and not as a foe to anyone who supports and endorses the PNOC-EDC project. But I am sorry to say that my stand is that I will remain opposed to the project for I know that it will cause irreparable destruction and damage to endemic flora and fauna within the targeted area in Mt. Kanlaon."
"I know that local government units (LGUs) and businessmen can not decide in contrast to our stand in an aim to solve the foreseen power crisis in Negros.
Yet, if we can not stop them, it is still incumbent upon us to continue campaigning in the conscience of everyone for I know that the grace of God will always work, especially that flora and fauna are His best gifts to us, and Mt. Kanlaon is also a God-given patrimony to us."
But Paul Aquino, PNOC-EDC president, told Navarra that "geothermal is also a God-given gift to Negrenses."
Both Zayco and Reyes, on the other hand, stressed the pressure is now with the Provincial Board (PB) members who will decide this week on whether or not to approve the PNOC-EDC proposal.
"But definitely, the law must be followed on this issue," stressed Reyes.
Zayco said: "I have no choice but to respect whatever decision the Provincial Board (PB) (would come up) on this issue."
Trees or jobs
"We have to choose now between trees and jobs," said James Chua, president of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BFCCCI).
Like the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), BFCCCI is also pro PNOC-EDC.
Chua said that being in the business sector, he feels the urgent need for a stable power supply in Bacolod and Negros Occidental. "What we need is a consistent yet reasonable and affordable power supply. Let's look at the reality now, and we have no choice but to succumb to a tradeoff between trees in the forest and business and jobs in the City."
Thanking the Negros environmentalists for being noisy in opposing the PNOC-EDC's proposal, Chua said: "What's the use of having all the trees in Kanlaon if we don't have jobs and worse, no business at all in Negros and Bacolod?"
Lawyer Juliana Carbon, general manager of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) is also in favor of the exploration, saying the utility firm cannot afford to have damaged water pumps due to constant power fluctuations.
Murcia Mayor Esteban 'Sonny' Coscolluela appealed to all Negrenses -- pro and anti PNOC-EDC -- to be honest with themselves. "Time for complaining is over so let's bond together now and support the proposed geothermal exploration."
He argued that the buffer zone is not yet the protected area of Mt. Kanlaon. So in the name of development, "we have to say yes to the project." (Erwin Ambo Delilan)
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