Environmental groups and the Department of Environment & Natural Resources are again on the opposite sides of the coin over the expansion project of the Energy Development Corp. in Nasulo, Valencia.
This P4.64 billion project, which is expected to generate an additional 49.4 megawatts of electricity through geothermal energy, led to the cutting of 559 trees (out of the 1,346 trees applied for).
Now, this has gotten the tree-huggers alarmed and angry. Mt. Talinis, they said, is considered a priority conservation area because of its high number of endemic species of flora and fauna. They equate the cutting of 559 “century-old trees” to the loss of our island’s water supply.
On the other hand, the DENR says there’s nothing wrong with the cutting of 559 trees because it is done for a greater good. Charlie Fabre, the provincial environment & natural resources officer, said the EDC project is a “high impact” project that affects the economy or the energy supply of the country.
Besides, 134,600 trees will be planted to replace those trees, Fabre continued, as the DENR had given a permit for the cutting of those trees after a thorough inspection.
The DENR is in an unenviable position. It finds itself in a Catch 22 where it is damned either way.
The EDC, on the other hand, says that it will plant more trees than it had cut. That’s the least they could do to repair the damage.
The environment groups, meanwhile, may want to offer an alternative other than just opposing the cutting of trees. The value of trees cannot be understated. Trees are good for the environment. But where would we be if we had no electricity and economic progress?
Iligan, the city which used to have abundant power because of the hydroelectric power plants from the Maria Cristina Falls, has people cursing the dark because of the absence of forward planning on the part of energy officials of prior years.
We don’t want that to happen to Negros Oriental, and ruin our economic gains because of the entry of companies that had been lured by sufficient electric power.
We’re not saying that one side is wrong, but we’re happy that something is being done to correct a “necessary evil”.
