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Monday, November 26, 2007
Court orders PNOC to explain Apo drillings
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- A Regional Trial Court in North Cotabato has summoned officials of the Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation (PNOC-EDC) to explain the alleged drilling on Mt. Apo without authorization from the local government units.
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North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol said the PNOC-EDC has admitted that it is drilling outside the 701-hectare area of the Mindanao Geothermal Production Field.
Piñol said the unauthorized drilling has caused the destruction of a portion of the Mt. Apo Nature Park, prompting the province to protest.
Sun.Star Davao tried but failed to reach any of the PNOC-EDC officials for comment Sunday.
North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan said PNOC-EDC failed to consult and secure clearance from the provincial government before starting the drillings.
A case has been filed against PNOC-EDC.
Sacdalan said the provincial government will also use the memorandum of agreement signed in 1992 by local government officials and PNOC.
The MOA provides "that they will inform us of any changes in the operations."
PNOC's attention has already been called on drillings it conducted outside the specified geothermal sites in Mt. Apo but the government-run energy company ignored the notice.
In a resolution last week, the provincial board urged the governor to ask the local court to order PNOC to cease and desist from its drilling operations.
"This is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed. We can't allow the drilling to continue, especially if it destroys the biodiversity, the mountain's rainforest, in particular," Piñol said.
The provincial board questioned the executive order issued in September this year by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declaring Mount Apo as an "economic zone."
"I wonder why the national government is deciding for us here at the local level. Do they realize that once the Mt. Apo is declared an economic zone, the mountain's rainforest might be destroyed?" asked Piñol.
Piñol stressed that the declaration "was carelessly done" by "Imperial Manila."
Executive Order 661, which declared Mt. Apo an economic zone, was signed by President Arroyo in Davao City. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (November 26, 2007 issue)
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