THE Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC) is unfazed by reports that Negros' environmentalists will seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the court to block its 30-megawatt geothermal exploration at the buffer zone of the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP).
In its corporate statement emailed to Sun.Star Bacolod Monday night, PNOC-EDC stressed: "It respects the right of any person or group to file a TRO against its entry to Kanlaon."
Mark Cervantes of Green Alert Movement has said their group, along with the Save Mt. Kanlaon Movement, is planning to seek a TRO to prevent PNOC-EDC to pursue its geothermal exploration at the buffer zone.
Jasmin Kho, also of Green Alert, has once said: "The fight against PNOC-EDC's entry to Mt. Kanlaon is not yet over."
Their moves are also being supported by the Catholic Church, especially by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra.
PNOC-EDC, however, said: "We wish to assure all Negrenses that we are ready to address the issues in court. As everyone knows, PNOC-EDC has secured all the necessary permits and endorsements to be able to tap the geothermal resource in the buffer zone and help augment the province's power supply."
"We have also presented our environmental management plan for the buffer zone in the dialogue organized by the Department of Energy (DOE) last May 19. Last week, the Provincial Board has approved our entry to the buffer zone after getting the opinion and endorsements of the DOE and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as well as the business sectors, electric cooperatives, international NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and UP (University of the Philippines) College of Forestry," it added.
PNOC-EDC is confident the court will resolve the issues expeditiously based on facts and the law in consideration of the critical power situation in the province.
"We reiterate our commitment to provide power to the province starting 2010 and implement the environmental management plan approved by the Park Board," it added. (Erwin Ambo delilan)
