Ormoc now has 2 tramlines for veggies transport

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — The vegetable farmers in this city are now blessed with two tramlines to transport their products from the rugged hills of Bgry. Cabingtan, an area where the Energy Development Corporation also operates.

While these projects serve the same purpose, it is worthwhile to know the differences that led to the establishment of the tramlines.

The first one, in sitio Catmonay, was set up by Mayor Eric Codilla some years back, and has been serving the farmers since then. The latest one, inaugurated a week ago by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th district, Leyte), is in sitio Sulpa, also of the same barangay.

According to a female staff of the City Agriculture Office (CAO), who requested anonymity, Codilla secured the necessary permits and was issued a geothermal clearance by the Environment Management Bureau in EDC for the project in Catmonay.

She also told The Freeman that the second tramline in Sulpa may not have acquired a similar clearance because the EMB was hesitant to issue such considering that the site was at the edge of a forested area.

“The personnel of the congressional office (of Lucy) also visited our office, but we did not expect the second project to push through since the chosen area has lesser production than the first. And, as far as I know, EDC refused to issue a clearance for fear that farmers might encroach into the forested area (of EDC),” said the CAO staff.

Codilla, for his part, said: “When we planned the tramline, I also took into consideration the sustainability aspect in relation to environment and the balance between livelihood and Ormoc’s underground wealth – geothermal energy.

The mayor said the first choice site for the tramline was in Sulpa, but later decided to put it up in Catmonay because of sustainability, bolstered by EMB’s opinion that farmers in Sulpa might apply the slash and burn method to have more room for vegetable farming. This would result in disrupting nature’s way of providing the people with sustainable geothermal energy, he said.

“By securing a geothermal clearance, our tramline (in Catmonay) was assured that no drilling activity will be made in the future, thus the farmers in the area, the EDC and the city government will continue to share the fruits of economic benefits,” said Codilla.

Farmers in Bgry. Cabingtan, contacted by The Freeman, said they were happy of the development, and acknowledged Codilla’s orientation with the poor people as the reason for the tramline projects.

“Mayor Codilla knew how hard-up we are here, that’s why he came up with this project. After the first tramline, we were able to enjoy its benefits, the reason perhaps why this is being replicated recently,” they said in the dialect.  – THE FREEMAN