Leyte geothermal plant gets ‘seal of approval’

ORMOC CITY—The country’s biggest producer of geothermal energy has been given a seal of approval by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that would make it easy for the renewable energy company to acquire permits for expansion and other projects.

The Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is this year’s lone recipient of the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) Seal of Approval given annually by the DENR.

While it doesn’t carry a monetary component, the award means relaxed rules, longer permit validity and simplified procedures in acquiring an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), a key requirement for companies to proceed with projects.

The seal of approval is valid for a year.

The award, according to the DENR, recognizes a company’s efforts to protect the environment in its operations.

It is the fifth time of EDC Green Core Geothermal Inc., based in the village of Tongonan in Ormoc City, to win the seal mainly for its 112.5-megawatt Tongonan geothermal plant.

EDC is the only recipient of the seal under the “Track 1” category of the PEPP, which seeks to promote the use of nonpolluting business processes.

Businesses that qualify for Track 1 seals of approval are those that go beyond mere compliance and institute measures that not only protect, but also promote a healthier environment.

Recipients of the DENR’s approval seal undergo a series of evaluation, including validation of documentary requirements and site inspection by the Environment Management Bureau’s regional offices and members of the PEPP technical evaluation committee.