Green groups, officials decry wind projects in Quezon

By Nimfa L. Estrellado Environmental advocates and local officials in Quezon Province are at odds with developers over two wind power projec...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado

Environmental advocates and local officials in Quezon Province are at odds with developers over two wind power projects, raising concerns about potential ecological damage and a lack of transparency.(Kasama ng Kalikasan)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Environmental groups and local officials are decrying the lack of transparency and potential ecological damage from two separate wind power projects in Quezon Province. The controversies highlight a growing tension between the push for renewable energy and the urgent need to protect the country's critical ecosystems and cultural heritage.

In Infanta, environmental groups are sounding the alarm over a plan to cut or prune 721 trees along the road right-of-way for a transportation route for wind turbine generator (WTG) materials. The trees, which include ecologically significant species like Narra, Karay, Uyok, Balete, and Hagimit, are crucial habitats for threatened wildlife, such as the Northern Rufous Hornbill and the Philippine Eagle Owl.



Ronald Achacoso, president of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc. (PNPCSI), expressed outrage over the loss of native trees, saying, "Even the rather ordinary ones provide a microhabitat for rarer species that tend to be overlooked such as orchids, Begonias, gesneriads and other cryptic species."

He lamented that a rare Umbrella Tree (Heptapleurum oblongifolium), documented for almost a decade, had already been cut down. "Not sure if it was part of the clearing activity of Alternergy but we have been documenting that tree for almost ten years and it’s the only one we’ve seen so far and now it’s gone,” he said.

Environmental lawyer Atty. Jennifer Ramos warned of possible legal violations, explaining that "the area is within a protected area that’s why an environmental impact assessment is required." She added that "cutting trees without permit under the Revised Forestry Code and violation of the Environmental Impact System Law for cutting and pruning without environmental compliance certificate" may constitute offenses.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Calabarzon (DENR-Calabarzon) confirmed that no permit has been granted yet, but is still under review. An application was received on August 1 from Wintex Logistic Corporation for the pruning of 460 trees and cutting of 261 trees within the 70-meter road right-of-way of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Adding to the province's environmental woes, the proposed 247 MW Banahaw Wind Power Project is facing strong opposition from the Save Bundok Banahaw Network (SBBN) and Tanggol Kalikasan. Spearheaded by GigaWind4, Inc., a subsidiary of ACEN Corporation under the Ayala Group, the ₱24.5 billion project is slated to cover approximately 4,567 hectares across 10 barangays. Critics point to Republic Act No. 9847, which legally designates the site as a protected landscape, creating a fundamental contradiction with the planned development.

The opposition has raised concerns that the massive scale of the development could endanger the mountain's unique biodiversity, pose a direct threat to the ongoing Philippine Eagle reintroduction program, and trigger landslides and soil erosion, as Mount Banahaw is an active volcano. Beyond environmental and safety risks, the project has drawn significant cultural opposition as the mountain is considered a sacred site for pilgrims and spiritual groups, and its forests are a vital watershed for millions of residents.

At a recent meeting, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL) and several local government units revealed they were not informed of the initial scoping activities by the project proponent. This has led to accusations of a major breach of protocol. DENR-IVA Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria expressed his surprise at the project's scoping, which he was only made aware of after a call from Governor Angelina "Helen" Tan.

The DENR-Environment Management Bureau (EMB) postponed a scheduled Public Scoping for the project, advising the proponent to coordinate with the Provincial Government of Quezon. Manny Calayag of the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) insisted that all actions must be "science-based and in accordance with the law." The environmental groups has publicly called the project a form of "development aggression," claiming it benefits "landlords and capitalist developers" while causing widespread environmental damage.

Ben Francia, a spokesperson for the newly formed citizen network Juam Banahaw, expressed his bewilderment and concern over the PAMB and other agencies being uninformed about the project's activities, questioning, "If it is a clear violation of the law?" He lamented the apparent lack of action from the board regarding the proponent's breach of protocol, stating that it leaves a "gray area" and is a cause for serious alarm.

The combined controversies highlight a growing tension between the push for renewable energy and the urgent need to protect the Philippines' critical ecosystems and cultural heritage. The apparent lack of coordination and transparency raises serious questions about accountability and the future of sustainable development in the region.