More officials named in case vs energy firm

BACOLOD CITY – Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and three local government officials have been included in an amended complaint seeking to stop the entry of the Energy Development Corp. to the buffer zone of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

The Save Mt. Kanlaon Coalition also charged Gov. Isidro Zayco, Mayors Ramon Torres of Bago and Esteban Coscolluela along with Reyes before the Regional Trial Court here.

The original complaint charged Environment Secretary Lito Atienza Jr., EDC and the Protected Area Management Board for the issuance of a tree cutting permit that allows the energy firm to expand its geothermal development in the buffer zone.

The coalition, which is being supported by Bishop Vicente Navarra, is questioning Proclamation No. 1005 signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos that sets aside areas as protected and buffer zones of Mt. Kanlaon. Of the 291 who signed the petition, 87 are children and babies represented by either their parents or guardians.

The complainants are also asking to declare certain sections of RA 9154, which identified the buffer zone as open area for geothermal development and separate from MKNP, unconstitutional, and to issue a temporary restraining order and injunction to stop EDC from entering the buffer zone.

While the issue on its entry is pending before the local courts, the EDC claimed that its reforestation project continues and has, in fact, reforested 536 hectares and planted more than 600,000 trees in Northern Negros.

A press statement from the company said that 300 hectares were planted on private land, 100 hectares and another 50 hectares were planted inside the natural park in partnership with the Provincial Environment and Management Office and the PAMB, respectively, while 86 hectares were planted in areas surrounding EDC’s geothermal facility in Murcia and Bago City.