Aklan wind farm gets P7.9-M penalty for cutting trees

Manila Bulletin
August 4, 2015

Aklan — A wind farm in Aklan province has been penalized P7.9-million for illegally cutting trees.

Merlene Aborka, acting chief of technical division of the Aklan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said PetroWind Energy Inc.’s (PWEI) paid P7.9-million as penalty fee to Western Visayas regional office of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-6).

“PetroWind has apparently cut trees illegally in protected areas in Malay town,” said Aborka.

“PetroWind asked for a permit to cut the trees, but did not wait for approval. That’s why it committed environmental violations,” added Aborka.

DENR-6 Regional Director Jim Sampulna told Manila Bulletin that PetroWind specifically violated Presidential Decree No. 705 (Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines).

While PetroWind is producing renewable energy, Sampulna said it was being irresponsible in proceeding with cutting the trees without proper permit.

“PetroWind could not wait for the permit and cutting it without a permit is against national environmental laws,” Sampulna emphasized.

Sampulna also pointed out that another renewable energy company in neighboring Antique province violated environmental laws.

Sunwest Water and Electric Co. Inc. (SUWECO), which operates an 8-megawatt hydropower plant in Bugasong town, also illegally cut trees in environmentally-protected areas.

Sampulna reiterated the call to all private entities to live up to its corporate social responsibility (CSR) by abiding with environmental laws. (By Jun Aguirre and Tara Yap) source