SP will have to decide
on buffer zone: Reyes
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan can’t pass the buck, it has to make a decision.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes yesterday said the SP decision tomorrow on whether it concurs or not with the Philippine National Oil Co. Energy Development Corp. plan to enter the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park buffer zone to tap more geothermal power will be awaited.

“The elected officials have to make the difficult and painful decision,” he said, since, all sides have already been heard.

The Philippine National Oil Co. Energy Development Corp. yesterday bared its plans to protect the environment in the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park, while Green Alert insisted that its entry would be “suicide” for the environment.

Rei Medrano, PNOC EDC’s Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility, in his presentation at a dialog at L Fisher Hotel on the firm’s planned entry into the 169 hectare buffer zone to tap more geothermal energy said they will now only enter 12.5 hectares.

He also stressed that they have reduced the number of trees they will cut from 7,969 to 4,213.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes yesterday said government is working in a very aggressive manner on going renewables for the country’s power needs, when asked if the power barge being sought by Gov. Isidro Zayco to address the frequent brownouts hitting Negros Occidental, could be made available.

“We’re going all out on renewables, that’s the way to go, no other way. We can not be perennially dependent on imported and conventional fuel such as oil and coal,” said Reyes, who was in Bacolod City.

“We have to develop alternative renewable sources of energy,” he said, pointing out that power barges provide bridge fuel “bridging time between now and when renewables will finally kick in and provide energy requirements”