Business groups press for geothermal project in Mt. Kanlaon
By Carla Gomez
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 22:59:00 05/13/2008
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines -- Two business groups and electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental have urged the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) to immediately pass a resolution allowing the Philippine National Oil Co. Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) to enter the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park buffer zone.
The PNOC-EDC has asked for the concurrence of the Negros Occidental SP on its entry into the buffer zone to tap more geothermal energy for its North Negros Geothermal Power Plant (NNGPP) in Bago City.
The plant was designed to produce 49 megawatts of geothermal power but has an output of about four megawatts.
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), Bacolod Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BFCCCI), Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) said the production of geothermal power would alleviate a power shortage in Negros.
Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, said if Negrenses wanted adequate power, then they should sacrifice a little with the entry into buffer zone.
"Nothing is for free. We have to give up something for development," Escalante said.
The people should speak out and tell their officials what they really wanted, he said.
Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco said he expected the SP to resolve the matter at its session on Wednesday.
Vice Governor Emilio Yulo III said the SP would like to give all parties concerned an opportunity to be heard and to submit their position papers, which was part of due process.
Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and several environment groups have opposed the entry of PNOC EDC into the buffer zone, saying it would destroy its rich biodiversity.
MBCCI vice president Jose Ma. Zayco and BFCCI president James Chua, in a letter to the SP through Yulo, said they have been earnestly persuading the provincial council to pass with urgency a resolution allowing the PNOC-EDC to enter the buffer zone.
Ceneco president Roberto Montelibano also said his coop and Noceco have been urging the SP to act on the matter due to the urgent need for the project in the face of a power shortage in the region.
Noceco, in a position paper, said the entry of PNOC EDC would help solve the power shortage problem that was forecast to get worse if not remedied.
Energy officials said Cebu, Panay and Negros would experience a shortage in power supply by the last quarter of 2010 but this summer, brownouts were already frequent, the Noceco said in its position.
"Aside from lack of power supply, we already have a problem of power quality. During peak hours, the receiving voltage is so low that some commercial establishments have opted to generate their own power," it added.
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