Negros Occidental Board Member Mae Javellana yesterday said the entry of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company- Energy Development Corporation to the 169-hectare buffer zone of the Mt. Kanlaon National Park for geothermal development, is legal, and allowed by the law, citing provisions of RA 9154, or the MKNP Act.

Javellana, chairperson of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said there is no question about the entry of PNOC to the buffer zone, as it is provided in the law.

She, however, said the state-owned firm sought an endorsement from the SP and Governor Joseph Maranon to enter the buffer zone because there are trees to be cut. To be given a cutting permit, they need concurrence from the provincial council, Javellana added.

The plan of PNOC-EDC to enter the buffer zone got strong resistance, not only from environmentalist and militant group, but also from the Diocese of Bacolod.

The PNOC said the project development will not have a considerable effect on the biodiversity of the area, as the activities will only be confined within 12.48 hectares for road and pad establishment, which is only 7.7 percent of the 169-hectare buffer zone.

Javellana yesterday chaired the joint committee hearing on the proposed geothermal development of PNOC within the buffer zone, that was attended by members of various environmentalist and militant groups, representatives of the state-owned firm and the Provincial Environment and Management Office.

She said her committee will submit a recommendation to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan after hearing the views of all parties concerned.

The PNOC-EDC, in a fact sheet, said ground water will not be extracted for the development of geothermal within the buffer zone. Only the surface water running in creeks and streams will be tapped, which will be done in accordance with the rules and regulation of the National Water Resources Board, it added.

Quoting the Rapid Assessment of the Impact of Tree Removal in Small Portion of the 169-hectare buffer zone, done by Dr. Rex Cruz of the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources, PNOC said the impact on water budget (infiltration and ground water storage) is projected to be insignificant.

Delia Locsin of the Save Mt. Kanlaon Coalition asked what assurance is there that they fail to generate enough geothermal energy from within the buffer zone, they will not encroach further into the park.

Plant resident manager Gino dela Cruz said that while PNOC-EDC reaffirms its commitment to provide power to Negros Occidental through its Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant in Barangay Mailum, Bago City , which can produce about 30-MW starting April 2010 and 40-MW from January 2011 onwards, the sustainable power outside the buffer zone is only 20MW.

“We have to act now if we want to avert the projected power crisis in Negros Occidental by 2010,” he stressed.

By entering into the buffer zone, PNOC is expecting to produce 20MW more geothermal power supply.*GPB

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