July 2, 2008, Bacolod City

 “If Negros will suffer from floods will the proponent of the EDC geothermal plant suffer with us and the majority of the poor? The experience of Iloilo and Capiz on floods is a lesson that we have to consider.”

This was the reaction of Green Alert Negros on the statement of some businessmen that “if Negros lacks power will Sen. Pia Cayetano suffer with us”?.

Green Alert Negros slams the reaction recently of Governor Isidro Zayco and some individuals of the business sector on the move of Senator Pia Cayetano to “request” PNOC-EDC, DENR and the DOE to “defer” in the meantime the cutting of trees within the “buffer zone” of MKNP because there is no legal basis for the issuance of any kind of permit or the signing of any kind of memorandum of agreement which will allow PNOC-EDC to proceed with its planned expansion.

“We laud Senator Pia Cayetano for intervening in this issue because ever since we are clear in our contention that the planned geothermal expansion, exploration and development lacks an “act of Congress”. The good Senator wanted to be clarified on the merits of allowing PNOC-EDC to enter the “buffer zone” of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park ”. Green Alert said.

“There is no power crisis in Negros ! The main cause of brownouts in previous months were the Preventive Maintenance Shutdowns (PMS) due to laying of submarine cables/energization of the CNIUP (Cebu-Negros-Iloilo Upgrading Project); Energization of additional 50 MVA transformer at Bay 27 in Amlan (Panay); shutdown of the old 30 MVA; transfer of the 50 MVA to the location of the old 30 MVA; installation of gantry at Bus I and II of the 138-kv line; and installation of new beams of Bay 74; Repair of Palinpinon 1 and 2 and repair of Dingle diesel plants”. Green Alert added.

 “We also see the point of our businessmen when it comes to issues on power and energy. But they should consider that there are “other alternatives” like hydro-power, wind energy and solar energy. This was recently discussed during the visit of Mr. Larry Asera, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the California-based Asera Group. Ascera cited the potential of the province, which has one of the highest wind resources in the country”. Green Alert added.

Green Alert and the Save Mt. Kanlaon Coalition are urging the Provincial Government and the Department of Energy to seriously consider other “available” renewable alternative sources of energy and look for more investors for these.

“We hope that the business sector will understand our position. We consider the issues on energy and power important. But solutions have to be done without compromising our environment and there are other sources of alternative energy other than geothermal. We encourage them to look for more investments to help implement other feasible alternatives like hydro, wind and solar.” Green Alert said.

 Mark Cervantes

Green Alert Negros

09052961281