NEGRESES ASKED TO UNITE TO SAVE MT. KANLAON
Manila Hotel, Manila --- The call for all Negrenses, whether in the Negros Island, Manila, or any other parts of the world to unite might be one of the solutions to stop PNOC-EDC from cutting down more trees in the buffer zone of Mt. Kanlaon. This is the plea of Don Flordeliza, Greenwatch Philippines Chairman and Task Force Save Mt. Kanlaon Representative Manila Chapter.
The desperate battlecry of Flordeliza is one of the last recourse to stop the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in doing more harm to the buffer zone and ecosystem of Mt. Kanlaon National Park (MKNP).
"This is not my fight alone. This is not the fight of Negreses in Negros. This is the fight of all Negrenses because what EDC is doing is not only unconstitutional but also inhuman! This is against the human rights of our children to see a better future," Flordeliza said.
1,000 Trees Down
As of the present time, nearly 1,000 trees have been chopped to pave the way for geothermal exploration in the area, informed by Flordeliza. Two point seven kilometers of road had also been paved to make way for big machineries to enter the buffer zone and continue the destruction, he added.
Simultaneously, a mass action protest was held by various groups and environmentalists in Bacolod City as the protesters declare August 11 as the Save Mt. Kanlaon Day. The Green Alert organization also staged a "wake" in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to "mourn the death" of the cut trees in the buffer zone.
"Inuubos na ang biodiversity! Di dapat pumayag lawyers ng mga NGOs. Judgement by default dapat!" exclaimed Dr. Roger Birosel of NGOs for Integrated Protected Areas Inc. (NIPA) and Earth Savers Movement during the press conference.
The Lopez-owned EDC, formerly PNOC, are conducting geothermal explorations in the buffer zone on Mt. Kanlaon. "One hundred sixty nine hectares with 4,213 trees will be victimized for this useless search of supposedly geothermal power that is not even adequate," explained Flordeliza. Based on reports gathered by Flordeliza, only 4-5 megawatt power is available in the Mt. Kanlaon area instead of the expected 40 megawatt. This, he pointed, would not justify the continued hunt for the renewable energy on the mountain's buffer zone.
"We planted almost 1 million trees!"
In a press statement released by EDC signed by its president Paul Aquino, they explained that the cutting of trees is not for profit's sake but to look for possible sources of power to supply the Negros Island. EDC reportedly "promised" to prevent power shortage that may incur in 2010 in the island.
The EDC, even before its turn-over from the government as a private corporation, had planted around 500,000 trees in replacement to trees they chop during explorations, according to the press statement.
"Even if they (EDC) plant 100 million trees, it will never be the same. It cannot be compared to even just 100 hundred trees living for 100 years! They will be killing valuable biodiversity," espoused Flordeliza during the press conference. "Please lang, don't cut trees because you have the money to replace them. This is a very wrong and poor logic," he added.
Ding Reyes, host of Kamayan Para sa Kalikasan, added that due to the threat of global warming, weather forecasting will possibly become unreliable in the future. Flash floods will be common and the lag time between the growing of seedlings into mature trees versus the capacity of mature trees (that will be cut) to seep rain water will be too long, he explained.
Delaying Tactics
Last July 24, the Task Force Save Mt. Kanlaon filed a case against EDC and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza over the geothermal exploration. An amended case for a Temporary Restraining Order was refiled on July 31, including in the case Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco, Bago City Mayor Ramon Torres and Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscolluela, and the natural park's Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB).
The hearing on the petition was supposedly on August 12 but was now moved to September 5. TRO was not discussed due to "procedural deterrence", claimed by DOE and PAMB.
"At this rate, do we have anything more to save? EDC cuts trees at alarming rate of 500 trees per week. By September 5, we may only have less than 500 left," Flordeliza noted.
A source who wished to be unnamed claimed that the judge for case is being bribed to delay the court proceedings against EDC. "This is to be expected since the enemy has the money to spare. Of course what the Lopezes want the Lopezes gets," the source added.
A follow-up inquiry was also made on the request for a Senate Inquiry by Senator Pia Cayetano on the issue. But the Atty. Karen Mae Sarinas, legal counsel, said that Sen. Cayetano cannot just call EDC and say stop the exploration since everything has to be done legally.
"The MKNP buffer zone is a protected area and could not be used for exploratory purposes unless decided upon by an Act of Congress. There was no Act of Congress. Why should EDC be allowed to continue the cutting of trees when what they are doing is illegal? It's like killing a person in broad daylight but the murderer still could not be captured unless there is a warrant of arrest," the source explained.
Wind Farm and Ethanol Farm
Greenwatch Philippines is asking EDC for a moratorium of 15 months to explore other sources of renewable energy that has less damage to the environment. This MKNP geothermal exploration had been on operation for more than 15 years.
Several investors are also eyeing the Negros island for setting up wind farms since Negros is part of the major wind path of the Philippines. Flordeliza added that around 90-120 megawatt power can be produced when Iloilo and Negros wind power will be combined. That is more than enough to power the island.
Neal Cruz, broadsheet columnist and host of the Kapihan sa Manila, suggested the use ethanol as an alternative to the use of oil. The Negros island was once the heart of the sugar cane industry in the Philippines and ethanol can be produced from sugar cane.
Flordeliza mentioned that some sugar farmers can already produce as much as 2megawatt energy from ethanol and are selling them to power companies.
The potential of the ethanol farm is also highly endorsed as another source of power. Foreign investors are actually targeting Zambales for several prototype ethanol farms in the country.
Calling Kilos Bayan
Assistance from Kilos Bayan, an advocacy group headed by former Senator Jovito Salonga, may also be explored by Greenwatch Philippines and Task Force Save Mt. Kanlaon.
Salonga, carrying the banner of Kilos Bayan, filed a court case against the then Aquino government to cease converting the Marikina Water Shed Reservation as a garbage dump. The area was part of the protected areas of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Law authored by fomer Senator Heherson Alvarez. Salonga and Kilos Bayan won the case.
"We need all the help we can. We call all Negrenses to unite to save our beloved Mt. Kanlaon. We ask our legislators and senators to stop this transgression of EDC. We call for responsible media reporting because we feel we don't get enough coverage to make more people aware of this dangerous situation. We ask the help of Kilos Bayan to stop this illegal act of the Lopezes. Mt. Kanlaon, our mountain, is dying. Don't let more people die due to this geothermal catastrophe!" cried Flordeliza.
