Online Petition: Buksan Ang Isyu, Kasuhan ang Nararapat
A Petition to Re-open Public Deliberations on the Issues Concerning Two Energy Projects in Oriental Mindoro: the Montelago Geothermal Project and the Lower Catuiran Hydro Project,
and
To ask the Department of Justice to designate special prosecutors to investigate and prosecute Emerging Power, Inc., the Protected Area Management Board – NLNP, and some concerned local government units for possible violation of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992.
*******
The onslaught and aftermath of Typhoon Nona had the people of Oriental Mindoro guessing if these two Energy Projects are to blame. While we don’t want to point fingers without tangible scientific evidence and environmental assessments made by a third party, we would like to take a second look at how these projects were approved and monitored.
The areas covered by the project proponent for the Montelago Geothermal Project covers some land that were located within the the Naujan Lake National Park.
While exploration for the purpose of gathering information is allowed under the Law, under Section 14 of the NIPAS Act of 1992, “any exploitation or utilization of energy resources found within NIPAS areas shall be allowed only through a law passed by Congress.”
The efforts to reclassify and rezone such lands that are within the NLNP are beyond the mandate of the concerned agencies.
In these regard, we call on all our government units concerned from the Office of the President, the DENR, the PAMB Board, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Oriental Mindoro, the Sangguniang Bayan of Naujan to:
- Re-open public deliberations on how these two energy projects might have adverse effects on our environment.
- Re-open the process on how the ECC’s were given to these two projects and check for violations
- Re-open the process on how the NCIP were given to these projects and if the Free and Informed Consent were freely obtained as stated on the IPRA Act of 1997
We also call on the Department of Justice to designate special prosecutors to investigate and prosecute the concerned agencies, lgus, and EPI for possible violation of our laws.
Stay vigilant in protecting our Mindoro’s forests, watersheds and our National Park.