Negros gov OKs geothermal exploration in forest buffer zone
NEGROS Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco has approved the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP, provincial board) resolution that set strict conditions for the geothermal exploration of the Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. at the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park’s restricted buffer zone.
The provincial board’s submitted its resolution to Zayco after the governor on Thursday urged the body to finalize the measure so that PNOC-EDC could start tapping more energy for its Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant in Mailum, Bago City, and address the power shortage in Negros Occidental.
The NNGPP has the potential to produce 49 megawatts of geothermal power but it currently only produces 4 to 5 MW.
PNOC-EDC president Paul Aquino in a letter to Vice Governor Emilio Yulo III Friday, however, requested a change in the description of their geothermal activity from “exploration” to “development” since they would set up production wells within the buffer zone to feed steam into the NNGPP.
PNOC-EDC requested the concurrence of the Negros Occidental provincial government on its entry into the buffer zone that would involve tree cutting, civil works, and pipe laying.
The SP, in its Resolution 0435, decided to endorse the project, citing similar approval already granted by Department of Energy last April 2 and by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on May 15.
Since the concurrence of the SP was no longer necessary with the DENR issuance of the Special Tree Cutting Permit to PNOC-EDC, the SP said it deemed it to be its moral and social obligation to instead set conditions for the geothermal exploration in the buffer zone.
The conditions, among others, required PNOC-EDC to commit that electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental be given first priority in the sale of electricity from the NNGPP at a rate lower than the prevailing acquisition rate; to strictly limit its operations on pre-identified areas; to properly mark and tag all trees to be affected for inspection and validation by the Oversight Monitoring and Compliance Committee; and to identify areas covered by the proposed road, civil works, and pipe laying in the buffer zone.
The SP also said transplanting of affected trees should always be the first option; endangered species should not be cut if possible; and trees with a diameter beyond 100 centimeters should not be cut at all. No tree cutting should be conducted without the presence of representatives of the Oversight Monitoring and Compliance Committee.
Aquino said PNOC-EDC would abide by most of these conditions but it might be difficult to avoid cutting big trees directly on top of the geothermal resource area.
He said PNOC-EDC would instead commit to transplant trees whenever possible and reroute roads to avoid endangered species for as long as this would not lead result in longer roads that would mean more destruction of trees.
The Diocese of Bacolod led by Bishop Vicente Navarra and environmentalists here have opposed PNOC-EDC’s entry into the buffer zone, saying it will destroy the rich and irreplaceable biodiversity of the area.
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