The nongovernment Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) urged Philippine authorities to investigate the alleged cutting of trees without the necessary permits by fossil gas project proponents in Batangas.
On April 11, CEED filed complaint letters before the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Environment department against Linseed Field Power Corporation and Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company (Linseed-AG&P), and the adjacent 1,750 MW fossil gas power plant of San Miguel Corporation-Excellent Energy Resources, Inc. (EERI-SMC).
Gerry Arances, executive director of CEED, alleged that the proponents of the fossil gas projects “have cleared vegetation in their adjacent project sites” without the necessary documents.
“We wonder how this was allowed to happen as it seems not all necessary permits were granted to proponents before they could proceed with land clearing,” he said.
CEED claimed that neither of the two proponents has been issued necessary permits by the PCA to clear the project sites of coconut trees.
“If no permits were indeed granted to Linseed-AG&P and EERI-SMC, then it is clear as day that violations are being committed against the environment,” said Arances.
“We are hoping PCA and [the Forest Management Bureau] will conduct a thorough investigation on this matter,” he said.
CEED is among pro-environment organizations that are closely monitoring developments of LNG and fossil gas projects in Batangas that might pose a threat to an ecologically sensitive biodiversity hotspot known as the Verde Island Passage (VIP).
Father Edwin Gariguez, lead convenor of Protect VIP network, said “if violations are being made” in the the development of the projects, “we have much to fear for the health of the Verde Island Passage.”
The priest said eight new gas power plants and seven new terminals are planned in the area.
“Will the VIP have to repeatedly face injustice and destruction at the hands of gas proponents? We hope our environmental authorities will do their part in keeping watch over VIP,” said Father Gariguez.
