by Jonathan
L. Mayuga - August 4, 2016
ENERGY Development Corp. (EDC)
President and COO Richard B. Tantoco welcomes Environment Secretary Regina Paz
L. Lopez’s announcement to investigate the alleged violations committed by the
company in its operation in Negros Oriental.
“We look forward to the opportunity
to show Secretary Lopez that our Negros expansion is perfectly above board and
the allegations about expanding into Mount Talinis are untrue. Responding to
complaints from local residents in Mount Talinis against the EDC’s planned expansion
of its geothermal plant in Negros Oriental, Lopez on Thursday said
she will not hesitate to “use the full force of the law” to protect the
environment and preserve the ecological balance of Mount Talinis and other
biodiversity areas.
EDC is one of the companies owned by
Lopez’s family. It is a subsidiary of First Gen, a pioneer in
renewable-energy development in the Philippines.
Lopez vowed to look into the
complaints of residents and nongovernmental organizations based in Negros who
oppose EDC’s expansion, saying it would lead to destruction of old growth
forests on Mount Talinis.
“We will look into this and I assure
the public that the DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] will
be fair through the entire process and take into account the concerns of all,”
Lopez said in a statement.
EDC, which operates a 223-megawatt
geothermal plant in Valencia, Negros Oriental, submitted an application for
environmental clearance certificate for the expansion of the plant’s capacity
by 60 additional megawatts.
The DENR’s Environmental Management
Bureau office in the region has held public hearings on the application to
gather the position and opinions of stakeholders.
“Through good environmental
governance, we aim to harmonize our economic activities with nature through
sound practices that will not only address climate change, but ensure the
sustainable use of our resources, conservation and preservation” Lopez said.
Lopez added that she adheres to
strict compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations and standards,
and pointed out that under her watch, “there is no room for violation.”
“This is our guiding principle, our
commitment, our preaching and our practice in our quest for sustainable
development. This is our call to all stakeholders,” she said. “Our
concern for the environment and the pursuit of the common good transcends
familial and other ties.”
Zeph Repollo of 350 Pilipinas
earlier accused EDC of killing 576 trees on Mount Talinis or Cueernos de Negros
a few years back.
Mount Talinis is a key biodivesity
area spanning 23, 565 hectares. It covers the towns of San Jose,
Sibulan, Dauin, Zamboanguita, Siaton, Santa Catalina, Pamplona, Amlan and
Valencia, the EDC’s base of operation.
Lopez said an Environmental
Performance Report and Management Plan (EPRMP) submitted to DENR in April 2016
stated EDC-SNGP’s development block lies within Cuernos de Negros.
Cuernos de Negros is on the list of
conservation priority areas due to its high endemism and severity of threats.
The group is worried EDC’s second
expansion would lead to cutting of more trees on Mount Talinis.
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