Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro A. Ynares III has formally asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Vena Group Philippines to reconsider the placement of proposed wind turbines in parts of Rizal province identified as environmentally sensitive karst landscapes.
In separate letters dated Jan. 13, 2025, to DENR Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla and Vena Group Philippines country head Samrinder Nehria, Ynares said the province’s forests, watersheds, and unique rock formations “help mitigate flooding, prevent landslides, and address water shortages,” benefiting Antipolo City, Rizal province, and neighboring areas.
“These areas are significant not only for Antipolo City and Rizal Province but also for neighboring cities and adjacent provinces, as they promote clean water, preserve healthy ecosystems, and enhance community safety,” the mayor wrote.
Ynares said some proposed turbine locations “may be situated in areas identified as having karst characteristics,” which are “generally recognized as environmentally sensitive and require careful consideration due to their natural features and conditions.”
He warned that “construction activities in such locations may present challenges that merit further review to ensure long-term environmental stability and project safety.”
While expressing support for renewable energy, the mayor urged a reassessment of turbine placement. “We respectfully request that the placement of turbines in these areas be reconsidered,” he said.
He called for alternative locations or measures to ensure the project proceeds “in a manner that is environmentally sound and consistent with applicable existing policies and guidelines.”
Ynares added that Antipolo City “remains supportive of renewable energy initiatives” and is ready to coordinate with Vena Group Philippines and the DENR–Environmental Management Bureau to ensure the project proceeds “in an environmentally responsible and socially sustainable manner.”
The appeal comes amid opposition to the Rizal Wind Power Project. The Protect Sierra Madre and Masungi Coalition said more than 50 organizations had called on the DENR to block the project, citing potential impacts on protected areas near Metro Manila, including the Masungi Karst Conservation Area.
The coalition cited the DENR-issued Environmental Compliance Certificate, indicating that the project will traverse three protected areas and place 16 wind turbines within the Masungi Karst Conservation Area.
