Windfarm places Sagada folks in grave dilemna

By Gina Dizon
SAGADA Mountain Province – A proposed windfarm here to generate additional power for the Luzon grid has placed residents here in a quandary whether to allow it or not as it could destroy their water sources.

This, as Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Manuel Pogeyed said he doubted the existence of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued to the firm Philcarbon which is pushing the windfarm at Pilaw-Langsayan ridge between Sagada and Besao towns.

Pogeyed bared this in an interview when asked on the supposed issuance of an ECC by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as earlier relayed by Philcarbon chairman RufinoBumasang during a radio interview December last year.

Pogeyed said a monitoring body should be created after the issuance of an ECC, “but there is no monitoring body formed.”

The DENR Provincial chief also informed the public that an ECC requires an Environmental Impact Statement providing therein social acceptability, study on the effects of the proposed project and identification of mitigating measures of any damage wrought by the proposed project.

Free prior and informed consent (FPIC) consultations are on-going shedding doubt on the supposedly issued ECC.

Referring to the proposed wind farm, he said the EIS should contain effects on water sources, migratory bird path, mossy forest s, and noise pollution.

Effects on the water systems are heavily questioned by village folks on the building of the proposed wind farm projected to be erected within a critical watershed of PIlaw and Langsayan including Datakan.

Said watershed is the major source of water for nearby communities.

The proposed wind farm is currently the subject of consultations with the recent conduct of validation of field based investigations of affected areas in Lacmaan, Agawa, Suquib, Besao East, Besao West, and Payew of Besao; and barangays Dagdag, Demang and PatayPoblacion of Sagada.

In said validation activities, NCIP- Mountain Province Director Tomas Tawagen reminded everyone to think many times before giving a decision- whether to give consent or not to the building of the windfarm.

The validation of field-based investigations and the second and third general assemblies are part of the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) process for NCIP to issue either a certificate of consent or non-consent by the communities concerned.

Affected points where windmill towers shall be built were relayed by engineer Andrew Magwelang officer in charge of NCIP-Besao-Sagada service office.

Projected tower points are found in sensitive and critical watershed areas where finds water sources supplying nearby places of both northern and central Sagada and Besao; including boundary issues of adjacent lots

Projected areas where proposed windmill towers shall be built are located along the Langsayan-Pilaw-Datakan ridge namely (1)boundary between Suquib, Besao and Madongo, Sagada located in a private land in Pilaw; (2) Pilaw ridge claimed by Madongo and Suquib and where water is sourced to reach some Sagada households; (3) municipal boundary of Sagada and Besao; (4) Along Langsayan ridge with need to cut trees to level the ground; (5) along Langsayan where finds boundary of Lacmaan, Besao and Madongo with need to cut trees to accommodate the 5th tower; (6) between Lacmaan and Bangaan where finds water source of Lacmaan and Agawa, Besao; (7) ‘non-sensitive’ area; (8) boundary of Lacmaan and Bangaan in a private lot; (9)boundary of Lacmaan and Banggaan with need to scrape off trees; (10) Datakan watershed found in the boundary of Lakmaan and Aguid, Sagada.

In the validation activity held for SagadaPoblacion February 13, a boundary conflict between Madongo and SagadaPoblacion was pointed out leading to the resolution of said conflict before second general assembly is scheduled.

Schedules for the second general assemblies in other communities shall be relayed by the NCIP seven days before scheduled date, Magwelang said

The second general assembly shall let proponent Philcarbon deliver detailed information on their proposed project. Other expert statements would also be accommodated.