Sagada windfarm project stalled

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province --  No studies on the effect of wind turbine construction stalled  information to  guide affected folks on whether or not to give their consent on the  proposed construction by Philcarbon  Inc of  a proposed 15 megawatt  windfarm atop Pilaw-Langsayan ridge between the  boundary here and nearby  Besao.

This aside from no hydrogeology and soil tests, financial projections, and detailed  engineering plans that participants during the May 20-24 meetings, wanted to know  during the second general assembly of the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) process conducted by  the national commission on indigenous peoples (NCIP) in barangays of Kiniway, Lacmaan, Padangaan, Besao West, Besao  East, Suquib, Gueday, Agawa of Besao and northern barangays Bangaan, Pide, Aguid, Fidelisan, Tanulong,  Poblacion, Dagdag and Demang of this town who noted absence of  technical and detailed information to guide affected folks in said areas to come up with a decision.

Bangaan  Todyog  from Bangaan barangay aired hesitation on the  installation of  wind turbines which might  hit water sources and may divert  water  to either  adjoining Besao or  Sagada and may trigger conflict between the two tribes.

Philcarbon consultant Marijo Macaldo from  Apercu Consultants  and Philcarbon director Leonides Natera  said  steps shall be done not to hit water sources  on the construction of the windmill turbines but were not able to provide studies on the assurance that water systems shall not be hit.

The Pilaw-Langsayan ridge sits on  a critical watershed where hundreds of  villagers  from  identified barangays  cited above source their domestic and irrigation water to nearby rice fields and vegetable patches.  

The  FPIC process on the conduct of a second general assembly  lets applicant Philcarbon present their  engineering work plan and feasibility studies, and other relevant information to inform affected folks on the company’s  proposed windfarm project .

Noting lack of tests and information on the proposed windfarm,  community leader Henry Aquin  from Besao said  the  people of  the affected barangays should be informed so as to let them be  fully appraised of what the project is all about and guide them in  coming up with a decision  of whether to allow the  windfarm or not.

Indigenous Peoples representative to the Sangguniang  Bayan of Besao,  Ben Marrero  also forwarded that  environmental studies have not reached the legislative body of said community.  

Women leader  Janet Otinggey from Besao  is  fearful that  the weight of the  turbine might someday  in the future give way and cause a landslide.

There is no  soil or  hydrogeology tests by the  proponent  though  studies shall be done later , Natera and Macaldo said.

The environmental impact assessment conducted by Philcarbon and submitted to the department of  environment and natural resources did a vegetative, water resource, and bird path assessment  on  the proposed windfarm.    

FPIC guidelines  provide for at least 2 months decision period  following the  second general  assembly of the FPIC process.

Affected folks in  Besao asked for an extension of  decision making  pending  the needed information  from  Philcarbon.

Though barangay captain of Fidelisan James Duyog  said the village constituents already  decided  that  they don’t want the  project including affected folks from  Agawa, further  forwarding  threats of  landslides that might happen in the  future.

Community leader and former kagawad  Langbay Suyon from Aguid  further noted that people don’t want the project so  urged people to  state their negative position to the proposed project.  

Community leader Bernabe  Dekdeken of  barangay Agawa, Besao  was doubtful on the  surface  studies  conducted by Philcarbon  on  the distance of  water springs from the proposed turbine and stated his negative stand on proposed windfarm.

In the midst of  environmental  questions on the proposed windfarm,  engineer Ronaldo  Angeles of the  Department of  Energy said “there is yet no detailed study on wind energy” in the  country.

With the full blown implementation of the  Renewable Energy Act of 2008, there are 33 wind-based  energy projects  in the Philippines  currently on their exploration stage. Should the Sagada-Besao windfarm proceed, this shall be the first windfarm built on a watershed in the  country.

Philcarbon  assured the public during the May consultation 2012 that they shall undergo an environmental impact assessment, a requirement before  the  Environmental Clearance Certificate shall be issued by the Department of  Environment and Natural Resources.

An  ECC was  issued November  12,  2012 to Philcarbon by the  Environmental  Management  Bureau detailing the conditions and requirements  of  conducting the  proposed  wind farm based on the environmental impact  assessment  submitted  by Philcarbon and instructed  further submission of  permits  prior to operation and conduct of monitoring  activities during operational stage.

Angeles said the necessary permit  and clearances  as those needed from the concerned local governments units and  agencies  as the department of environment and  natural resources including a land use permit and an FPIC from the NCIP has to be  submitted to  DOE before  any construction shall be done.

The granting of the service contract by  DOE to Philcarbon is not automatic to start operations, Angeles  said, saying further that if the people don’t  want the project as manifested in  a no-consent  certification  then the  DOE cannot issue a notice to construct said project.

There are 10 proposed turbines spanning  4-5 kilometers along the Langsayan-Pilaw Ridge covering a 648  hectare application to DOE, and an 8 kilometer transmission  route from the ridge to sitio Pegew  to connect to the national electrical grid.

Although Natera said  Philcarbon is not yet sure on how many  hectares is the coverage of the proposed windfarm saying they  “shall give back” to  the Department of  Energy  what shall not be  used.   

The first community assembly validated  findings  of  the field based investigations taking note of  the extent of the ancestral domain and the indigenous peoples  who are going to be affected  including the  proposed sites.

Negotiation and  a memorandum of agreement follow  approval  should the affected folks favor the proposed project, otherwise, no MOA shall be done if not.