Solar project launched sans permits

In Santa Fe, Bantayan Island

CEBU, Philippines — The Solar Panel Research Project in Santa Fe town, Bantayan Island was inaugurated last Tuesday despite the lack of permits.

The inauguration was in line with the town’s 146th founding anniversary on October 3.

On September 21 this year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a notice of violation to Xena Joy Cruz, project study leader of Korean firm XLED.

The notice was signed by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Jose Cleo Cary Colis, Protected Area Superintendent of DENR Protected Area, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services, Bantayan Island Wilderness Area (BIWA).

Colis said that being a protected area, all developmental activities within BIWA are subject to DENR Administrative Order No. 17, series of 2007, which requires permit from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the PA-BIWA before undertaking any development.

“Based on field inspection and inventory of our field personnel, you are found to have constructed/established a Solar Power Energy Project in Brgy. Balidbid, Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu without permit from the BIWA-PAMB, a violation in Section 20 of R.A. 7586 (the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992),” said Colis.

RA 7586 and Presidential Proclamation No. 2151 declare Bantayan Island and its surrounding waters as protected area subject to prior vested rights, such as land titles issued under the Torrens System.

Councilor Jayson Repaso, a lawyer by profession, said the “illegal” project should have been stopped.

“Instead nga hunongon giapil pa sa program sa founding day ang pag-blessing sa illegal nga katukuran sa mao nga solar panel project sa pribadong Korean company,” he said.

The existing Municipal Ordinance 14-2015 also requires development permit and location clearance from the Municipal Council.

The Korean firm reportedly did not comply with the requirements.

“Gipasubay lang unta sa balaud, wala untay problema ang tanan. Sa kadaghan sa butangan sa solar panel ngano adto man jud ibutang sa lugar nga gidili sa balaud? Mo-respeto unta ni sila sa balaud ug sa katawhan sa Santa Fe,” said Repaso.

On September 28, the Municipal Council approved five resolutions, such as requesting Mayor Jose Esgana to take immediate action on the said project, requesting DENR to issue a cease and desist order, requesting DENR to conduct investigation and file appropriate cases, requesting the Environmental Ombudsman to conduct fact-finding investigation, and requesting the Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct investigation on the presence of members of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) during the installation of solar panels.

Esgana could not be reached for comment as of press time.

On October 2, Balidbid barangay residents and officials led by Barangay Captain Madelyn Rayco installed black ribbons along the village streets as a sign of protest against the “blatant rape of the mangroves ecosystem, a strict protection zone, without Environmental Compliance Certificate, barangay and municipal resolutions, among others.” (FREEMAN)