NEGROS Oriental Governor Roel Degamo renewed his support anew for “sustainable, clean, renewable energy” and strongly rejected any entry of coal-fired power energy in his province during the Green Convergence’s State of Nature Assessment (SONA) with the theme, “Environmental Monsters are Back; Superheroes Needed!,” at Albergo Hotel in Baguio City Monday, August 20.
Degamo got a standing ovation from the audience for his strong stance against coal saying “the province is committed not to use coal as an energy source,” adding that Negros Oriental “will no longer issue any permit, authorization or endorsements that support development and operation of coal-fired and fossil-fuel power plants.”
Last March, Degamo issued Executive Order No. 9, series of 2018 which mandates all six cities and 19 towns in Negros Oriental to use clean and renewable energy” which is “imposing a de facto moratorium on coal” in support of the national government’s agenda.
“As chief executive, giving priority to renewable energy has been a close-combat fight against the rich and powerful environmental monsters (referring to coal),” adding that it has been “a touch match but the choice has been easy as I always look at what is best for the Province and the constituency.”
Degamo also sought for strengthened public discourse on the effects of climate change.
“Fighting climate change needs a climate of change,” he said, adding that awareness on the issue should not be confined to scientists or policymakers only but “it is necessary to bring this knowledge to the attention of the general public and with population increases, the load on the Earth is undoubtedly going to increase critically in the coming years.”
“Mother Earth needs a legion of heroes from the grassroots to the highest public offices to save her from the looming disaster,” Degamo stressed.
The governor also emphasized on the use of renewable energy and how personal and political convictions can shape police directions “to advance efforts for a cleaner, safer and more secure environment.”
He described Negros Oriental as “a powerhouse” when it comes to renewable energy source, citing the vast geothermal field along its mountain ranges which produces a total of 222.5 megawatts through the geothermal plants in Nasulo and Palinpinon, all in the town of Valencia and operated and managed by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
Degamo said that in the past three decades, the province has been solely dependent on geothermal power but encourages venturing into other sources of renewable energies to meet the growing energy need in the Visayas region.
He lauded the entry of solar power plants in the province like the 24.2 megawatt (MW) plant in Bais City and the partnership between Silliman University and First Solar Orion to put up a 1.2 MW solar power facility for their needs making it “the largest school-based solar power project in Southeast Asia.”
Degamo also mentioned the three hydroelectric power projects being developed in the province which is expected to be operational in 2020 as he invites investors to explore as well the possibility of setting up wind turbines in the towns of Pamplona, Siaton and Sta. Catalina.
He ended with a reiteration that coal-fired power plants are dirty, and though it has been an uphill battle considering that coal remains cheap, “my answer is truer and simpler: environmental destruction is so expensive. It is never negotiable.” (PR)