Erwin Magallanes, Environmental Senior Supervisor of the Northern Negros Geothermal Production project (NNGPP), said that they have implemented stringent measures to address the environmental concerns raised by some sectors of society, before starting their operations at the buffer zone.
Magallanes said that the alleged water contamination in the Pula river, as claimed by the Green Alert group, which destroyed 20 hectares of rice field, has no connection whatsoever to the Asia river system at the buffer zone.
Green Alert members, who sought a temporary restraining order from the court to stop EDC from operating within the Mount Kanlaon buffer zone, claimed that they have witnessed the effects of the contamination on the rice fields. The contamination includes stunted growth, gradual killing and discoloration of the rice.
EDC has already extended help to affected rice farmers in Murcia, by giving them rice seedlings and fertilizers, so that their income is not disrupted.
Magallanes said that the water flowing to the irrigation canals in Sitio Gayas, which is about four kilometers from the buffer zone, did not come from the Asia river.
Magallanes also said that the silt barriers along the Asia river system located at the buffer zone, and slopes of the newly-opened 3.2 kilometer road, which have been covered with cogon matting, are now in place to address the siltation problem and flow of water during rainy season.
NNGPP Resident Manager Gino de la Cruz, however, said that they have already registered 80% completion of their work at the buffer zone, excluding the drilling operations.
Of more than 4,000 trees to be cut by EDC as approved by DENR, Magallanes said that they cut 2,523 only, sparing as much as possible the century-old trees.
De la Cruz said
