The majority of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan members are in favor of allowing the Philippine National Oil Co. Energy Development Corp. into the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park buffer zone to tap more geothermal power, Board Member Mae Javellana said yesterday.

But the SP members want to make sure that when they pass a resolution endorsing the entry, provisions are stipulated to ensure the protection of the environment, Javellana, SP Committee on Environment chair, said.

The provincial board members also want a provision requiring PNOC EDC to commit to making Negros Occidental the priority user of the geothermal power it produces to ensure that the power shortage in the province is addressed, she said.

Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District) yesterday said he supports the entry of PNOC EDC into the buffer zone because the power it produces is vital to Negros. He urged the oppositors to the move to look at the good it will bring the province.

The North Negros Geothermal Power Plant of PNOC EDC in Bago City that has a capacity to produce 49 megawatts, currently has an output of only 4 megawatts.

PNOC EDC is asking the SP for its concurrence on its entry into the buffer zone to tap more geothermal steam to boost its output.

Javellana furnished the DAILY STAR with a copy of the letter from Paul Aquino, PNOC EDC president, stating that his firm commits to replace the trees that will be affected by its entry into the buffer zone equivalent to the number and volume that will allow replacement of ecosystem services that would be lost.

Aquino pointed out that PNOC EDC conducted a biodiversity study of the buffer zone in 2007 as a prerequisite to the use of the buffer zone.

“These data allowed us to determine the composition of the area and to mark important species for avoidance during geothermal development. This resulted in the further reduction of the area from 169 hectares allocated by law to a 13 to 29-hectare projected work area,” he said in his letter.

PNOC EDC will comply with the environmental management plan approved by the Mt. Kanlaon Protected Area Management Board in October 2007, he added.

PNOC EDC will also  prioritize Negros Occidental in the supply of power from NNGPP, Aquino  assured.

He said the construction of geothermal facilities, to recover and augment the capacity of the geothermal plant, in the buffer zone  will require at least two and a half years that is why an SP decision on the matter is needed for the firm to meet the projected power deficits of the province by 2010-2011.

Harnessing geothermal resources in the buffer zone will contribute to the goal   of the province for a Green Negros Island, Aquino also said.

“Geothermal is the only baseload renewable energy resource available to the province at the moment. The other baseload option which is hydropower has no committed project for the province. The other renewable energy resources are either intermittent like wind power or still very expensive like solar power,” he said.

Vice Governor Emilio Yulo III said the SP will await the Committee on Environment report and recommendations before passing a resolution for or against the entry of PNOC-EDC into the buffer zone.

Javellana said the report is being drafted with the stipulations sought by the provincial board members to ensure the protection of the environment in the area and assurance of power supply for Negros, with the assistance of lawyers.

Video footage of the area to be affected in the buffer zone is being taken and trees to be affected are being marked to ensure PNOC-EDCs compliance with its commitment, she said.

“We want to ensure that environment concerns raised by those opposed to the PNOC EDC entry into the buffer zone are addressed,” Javellana said.

“We have to be sure that all of these are in place before the SP as a body passes a resolution because we want to ensure the protection of environment for future generations,” she added.

The SP Committee on Energy headed by Board Member Nehemias dela Cruz earlier already endorsed the entry of PNOC EDC into the buffer zone.

Javellana  denied that she is a member of the Committee on Energy as earlier disclosed by de la Cruz.*CPG

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