A healthy dialog
ends in breakthrough

When talks are conducted in an atmosphere of open minds and willingness to explore solutions to a problem, the result is often enlightening. And that’s what happened Wednesday evening when Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes paid a call on Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra.

For Reyes, as he explained to his staff and myself, the stop at the Bishop’s House was very vital since he had a “high regard” for the prelate’s ideas about the PNOC-EDC geothermal well in Mailum, Bago City.

Thus, he hazarded a one and a half-hour wait by Negrense officials and stakeholders at the Nature’s Village to call on Bishop Navarra. I happened to be with the small group of DOE officials who called on the Bacolod Bishop.

In short, since there was no restriction on my presence, I thought that it was a conversation I could listen to and report in this column.

Thus, I can report that Bishop Navarra ended up allowing with very “strong reservations” the geothermal project subject, of course, to Reyes’ fair assurance that the holistic plan to preserve the biodiversity, and flora and of the Kanlaon National Park are protected and preserved or, otherwise, rehabilitated.

Bishop Navarra pointedly stated that he was worried about the fowls and animals of the park and the number of trees which allegedly had been felled by PNOC-EDC in the buffer zone.

When he gave his original go-signal to Reyes to proceed at the government’s wish, the DOE chief stressed that he was not there to ram down the throats of Navarra and the environmentalist groups the bureaucratic thinking.

He remonstrated that “like you, I was also former DENR Secretary and share your concern for the flora and fauna.”

And Reyes did not hesitate to ask Bishop Navarra for the latter’s ideas on what to do to mitigate the damage done if already accomplished and to restore to health the fauna and flora of the area.

Acting on the Bishop’s rejoinder, Reyes promised a program that will have to be clearly monitored and responsibility pinpointed. Reyes immediately instructed his staff to call for a Bacolod meet of the PNOC, EDC and the DENR as well as DOE top officials to craft a program to preserve the Kanlaon National Park.

That was quick action on the part of Reyes. Incidentally, former Sugar Administrator James Ledesma yesterday complemented Reyes as a fast decision-maker and one who can immediately see through a problem and retain his focus on the essentials.

And that was what struck me. Bishop Navarra, himself, was impassioned but also remained open-minded insofar as the mitigating proposals by Reyes were concerned.

In short, the meeting (instant) between the prelate and Reyes ended in a positive note rather than a standoff since both sides maintained an open mind insofar as problem-solving was concerned.

The reality is that the 40 megawatts from the geothermal plant is badly needed by Bacolod and Negros Occidental. And the brownouts that have plagued the city during the past few weeks are already causing tremendous losses to business establishments. And no ends in sight in the near future unless the problem of power is solved. Or eased, at least.

I also appreciate the concern by the environmentalists for the fauna and flora of the Kanlaon National Park.

In short, something must be done to have both concerns addressed.

While alternatives are desirable, the fact is that the only source of indigenous power is that of the Mailum geothermal power. There are others but these are such things as coal-powered plants, wind power, hydroelectric power. But these are not available and no one has come forward to pick up the cost of such ventures.

Another was the proposal by PNOC to buy 15 one-megawatt generator sets for Iloilo City. And, the other, the rehabilitation of the PNOC power barge. But these are expensive and not immediately available.

Thus, the energy distributors of Panay and Negros Occidental had signed a contract with Kepco for it to supply the power needs of their respective service areas coal power by 2010.

The oil price hikes make diesel-power generators just as expensive.

Thus, the only alternative solution is to give way to the exploration of the geothermal dig with rehabilitative and remedial measures to be crafted and submitted by the DOE with the cooperation of the PNOC and the EDC, the latter a Lopez-owned company.

Adopting hard line positions could only have aggravated  the problem of economic losses. The fauna and flora may be temporarily preserved but in the long run, they too will disappear when the economic doldrums reach its nadir.

Thus, I consider Wednesday night’s dialog an lightening exercise of statesmanship by both sides – the bishop and Secretary Reyes.

Things were made possible by rational minds.*

back to top