Kalinga throws support behind geothermal project

By Estanislao Albano, Jr.

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The provincial government here has declared its support for the geothermal project of the Chevron Kalinga Ltd. in the towns of Pasil, Lubuagan and Tinglayan in upper Kalinga.
In a resolution passed last Tuesday, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) said that it is supporting the project “in cognizance of its potential contribution to the development of the Province of Kalinga as well as the entire country.”
The resolution said that the support will take the form of assistance in the solution of problems that will arise during the exploration and guarantee of the cooperation of the stakeholders to ensure the safety and free access of proponents to the area covered by the geothermal contract service (GSC) to conduct their development activities without interference.
The resolution also stated that the provincial government “will institute measures to ensure the safe, responsible and sustainable development of the geothermal resources consistent with culture and heritage of the Kalinga people, and ensure that it advances and provides equitable benefits to the Kalinga people.”
Sangunian secretary Mathew Matbagan said that the resolution was in response to a request from the proponent for endorsement to the three barangays who still have not entered a memorandum of agreement (MOA) allowing proponents to explore in their respective ancestral domains.
Matbagan said the resolution was issued after Antonio Yee, president and general manager of Chevron Geothermal Philippine Holdings Inc. (CGPHI), Bernardo Lim, president and chief executive officer of Aragorn Power and Energy Corporation (APEC) and Ed Sevilla of CGPHI enlightened the SP on the geothermal project.
Magbagan said that it was necessary to summon the company officials because of allegations regarding the project coming from the affected communities including the suspicion that the project is just a camouflage for mining intentions and the fear that the project will trigger volcanic activity.
Yee assured the SP that the project is purely geothermal and that when it comes to volcanic activity, a geothermal project is even positive as it will serve as an outlet for heat inside the earth.
Matbagan said that the SP liked the policy of the company on mining and also its policy to prioritize residents in covered barangays in employment except for highly technical positions to which nobody in the barangays qualify.
Matbagan informed that the representatives did not give a clear answer when SP member Chester Alunday asked if the project could proceed if the three barangays which have not signed a MOA will continue to refuse to do so.
Matbagan said that according to the representatives, the joint venture contract of the three companies is now pending with the Department of Energy (DOE).
The joint venture of Guidance Management Corporation (GMC) and APEC are the holders of the GSC for the proposed geothermal project but that, according to the representatives, the two have merged with Chevron Kalinga of CGPHI to carry out the project.
Matbagan said that the representatives informed that after five years of exploration, Chevron Kalinga will be ready to develop the project which will initially generate 100 MW.
Last month the SP issued Resolution No. 2011-020 welcoming the “investments and operations of the Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings Incorporated (Chevron CGPHI) in the province” because the company “has proven its potential contribution to the development of the country through its various programs such as basic human needs, education and training, small and medium enterprise development, capacity building and geothermal projects.”
The officials have also seen the advantage of clean energy development here saying that “Chevron’s natural gas and geothermal projects reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel through the use of clean, indigenous and reliable energy.”
Last February 13, 2011, Yee was invited to grace the opening day of the 2011 Ulllalim Festival and 16th Kalinga Founding Anniversary.
If pushed through, the project site would involve 17,580 hectares in the ancestral domains of Balatoc, Dalupa-Ableg, Dangtalan, Guina-ang and Culayo in Pasil; Uma in Lubuagan; and Sumadel, Bangad, Tulgao, Dananao and Tongrayan in Tinglayan.**