The Sangguniang Panlalawigan will seek comments and recommendations from the Environment and Natural Resources and the Energy departments before deciding on the proposed entry of Philippine National Oil Company-EDC inside Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park buffer zone.

In its regular session yesterday, the SP committee on Energy, Laws, and Environment submitted a joint committee report stating that the issues were legal in nature and too technical for the SP to evaluate.

It said recommendations from the DENR and the DOE will help the provincial legislative body decide on the proposal, the report stated.

Environment committee chairperson, SP Mae Javellana said the joint committee is also soliciting comments and questions from other members of the provincial board.

The provincial council agreed to give DENR and DOE seven days to give its comments and recommendations to the SP.

Meanwhile, chairman Nehemias Dela Cruz of the SP Committee on Energy said PNOC-EDC should be required to get a new Environmental Compliance Certificate for its expansion project.

He said that the energy company should follow the rules and regulations to protect the environment and the people, and not ignore its importance.

Dela Cruz said a technical team should be created to conduct an in-depth study of the issues and the environmental impact of the project by the PNOC-EDC.

He added that Negros Occidental congressmen and the House Committee on Environment should be requested to conduct a review of the MKNP Act or Republic Act 9154.

Earlier, Mayors Ramon Torres and Esteban Coscolluela of Bago City and Murcia expressed their support to the proposal, saying it is within the ambit of R.A. 9154.

In his position paper, Coscolluela said the entry of the energy company in the buffer zone is necessary to stave off power shortage by the year 2010.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bago City has submitted to the provincial council a resolution passed on Nov. 28, 2007 expressing support to PNOC-EDC.*NAB

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