Power Exploration Inside the Buffer Zone ofMt. Kanlaon--Are you a PRO or ANTI? 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.
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." Mt. Kanlaon National Park Exploration (MKNP) is non-negotiable for PNOC-EDC. Eleonor Cabanilla, representing the Visayas Integrated Power Consumers Organization (Vipco), said that PNOC-EDC's proposal would cause the "massacre" of trees. But it was 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 PNOC Pros, 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. They 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."
Mr. Chua of the business sectror 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. Meanwhile, 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."
