SAGADA,
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE- Engr. Rufino Bomas-ang urged community leaders in Sagada and
Besao, Mountain Province to support the proposed windmill farm along Pilao-
Langsayan Ridge on the boundary of the two towns, during two separate public
consultations with renewable energy firm PhilCarbon on March 2, 2013.
“I
believe in the project,” stressed PhilCarbon’s chairman, who is a native of
Besao and an alumnus of St. Mary’s School (SMS) of Sagada in his talk at the
Besao Multi-purpose Coop Building during the town’s Ubaya Festival. Later the same day, he reiterated the same
conviction during another dialogue with the elders of Sagada at the St. Joseph
Inn.
During
the consultations, locals raised concerns on possible water supply diminishing,
farm animal harm, health problems, and environmental hazards. Among the attendees
were Gueday Barangay Captain Paul Casiwan, retired teacher Soledad Belingon,,
and Besao Vice Mayor Harry Baliaga. Also
in attendance were Doctor Leoncio Carlin, a native Sagadian and former Medical
Director of St. Luke’s Hospital who is currently based in Ohio, USA, and
Professor Andrew Bacdayan, another native Sagadian with a Master’s degree in
forestry and a Ph.D in economics and is currently a retired professor based in
Texas, USA. Both Dr. Carlin and Professor Bacdayan expressed support for the
wind farm.
In
response to the various concerns raised, Bomas-ang talked about the company’s
responsibilities prescribed by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, and community benefits that PhilCarbon is providing over and above
what the law requires.
He
denied environmental, agricultural, and health threats saying windmills are
safe as evaluated by international standards.
“Nu
dati ay um-a, um-a met laeng (crop farms will still be crop farms even with the
windmills),” responded Bomas-ang when asked if wind turbine blades would
scare cows away.
Bomas-ang
also showed a video clip of windmills in other countries along the shoreline
and on top of mountains to give the locals a better picture of windmills.
Ruth Yu- Owen, President of PhilCarbon, explained to the locals the distribution of taxes and other benefits as mandated by laws.
In
an interview, Bomas-ang lamented the fact that a group is spreading
misinformation about and campaigning against the project.
“Our
elders came to be clarified on the various allegations being made by this
group. With simple science and common sense, we hope we have shown that these are baseless claims,” said
Bomas-ang.
He also
announced that PhilCarbon is sponsoring another batch of locals to see the
Bangui, Ilocos Norte windmill farm to help them better understand the project.
ABOUT US AND
THE PROJECT:
The Sagada-Besao Wind Farm is a
government project- the Pilao-Langsayan Ridge being a priority due to its local
wind regime. A study conducted by the Department of Energy on the nationwide
wind patterns claims that the Pilao-Langsayan Ridge is a wind path, as with
that of Bangui, Ilocos Norte. The Department of Energy has therefore granted
PhilCarbon a contract to develop the proposed Sagada-Besao Wind Power Project.
PhilCarbon (www.philcarbon.com) is a
Philippine renewable energy company specializing in the development of clean
sources of power from natural resources such as wind, hydro, bio-mass and
geothermal. Aiming for a Philippines that is free of pollution and
self-sufficient, this developer, with the help of the Department of Energy,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Provincial Environment
and Natural Resources Officer seeks for an opportunity from the locals of
putting up a wind farm on the mountain ridges bordering Sagada and Besao.
The setting up of 10 wind turbines will generate
a 15MW capacity that can fuel the homes, farms, and businesses of the locals.
The prospect of producing a clean, renewable energy source for the community is
definitely a great initiative. Wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels,
is plentiful, literally renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no
greenhouse gas emissions during operation, and uses little land. Feasibility
studies and other environmental assessments are taking place to ensure that no
natural resources are harmed during the construction and installation as well
as during the operation of these turbines.
Yeah, I attended the consultations. As a native of Sagada, I have the right to know the real score of the project. I asked some questions and got the answers I needed. It was nice to know more info about the project. Will standby for further stories on the development of this proposed windmill farm.....so excited!
ReplyDeleteWow, did Bomas-Ang also describe how when he was head of DENR, he changed the law on carbon credits in the Philippines so that the company gets carbon credits, instead of the land owner, per UN law.
ReplyDeleteHe is also involved in the Sabangan and Layugan micro hydro projects, at 15mw each. When combined with the wind power project of 15mw, he is looking to generate 45mw for the Mountain Province. MP uses around 4-5mw of electricity for everyone, per month. His companies are looking to make 10 times more electricity than MP consumes. Logic says he will be making 10x more money than Mopreco every month.
And before anyone says "he claims he won't make a peso" - you don't understand corporate structure and tax evasion, not to mention the government subsidies for energy projects like this. All he has to do is put a service agreement or other contractual obligation for Sagada-Besao Wind Power Corp. to turn over 99% of it's revenue to Philcarbon for whatever contractual reason, like management services. Ask him to reveal his SEC incorporation papers an all service agreements and/or contractual obligations between Sagada-Besao Wind Power Corp. and Philcarbon. You will probably find he is very disingenuous.
If it is a law, how could he have changed it when the Legislative Power is only vested in the Philippine Congress. Although his motives are unsure, the project is definitely beneficial to the area.
DeleteHow can iyou be so sure that it is beneficial to the area when his motives are unsure? common sense
ReplyDeleteOf course Bomas-ang believes in the project, his company stands to earn over 160 million pesos a year in profit. Why wouldn't he believe in it? The question is why the community should believe in it, particularly given the quite minimal proposed returns, the violations of both the FPIC and ECC guidelines, and the Company's persistent refusal to release key documents that would provide real, detailed information rather than the bland promises and generic reassurances heard in meetings.
ReplyDeletei have already read about the project in many articles yet not one single articles talks of specifics. the manifestations of the plan. they are trying to get the approval of the locals although they still haven't even showed a real landscape plan of the project. they obviously still haven't studied the area, but they promise not to disturb the environment. what the hell are they trying to do? the locals their aren't stupid.
ReplyDeletehere, read this: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=342542715851352&set=a.342542679184689.1073741826.338664542905836&type=1&ref=nf
I was gonna make a comment on this, then I thought.
ReplyDeleteWho gives a rats ass about some drug infested lawless town in the boondocks?
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