Currimao allows cutting of 600 trees for $40M solar power plant

 

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Currimao, Ilocos Norte—Amidst calls to stop the “massacre” of trees, local residents and officials of this town finally agreed to let some 600 indigenous trees be cut to give way to a US$40 million solar power plant here. 

In a public hearing held May 28 at the Currimao government function hall, barangay and town officials, residents and representatives from the different sectors who attended posed no objection for the construction of the 60-hectare solar power farm located in a 150-kilometer stretch of sand dunes and a 25-year old forest park at Barangays Paguludan-Salindeg and Bimmanga, this town.

In a May 22 letter issued by the Office of the Mayor, Currimao Mayor Gladys Go Cue signed a certification which states, “There are no outstanding complaints nor anticipated issues raised against the cutting of trees affected by the proposed solar energy project.”

This came following a commitment of P25 million reforestation project from Soleq Philippines Inc. who is now pushing for the project construction since it took over direct control from Mirae Asia, the first proponent of the solar farm in 2012.

It was also agreed during the hearing that for every tree to be cut, this shall be replaced with 300 seedlings and for trees to be earth-balled, if necessary, shall be replaced with at least 100 seedlings.

As indicated in the agreement, the municipality of Currimao with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall ensure the replacement of trees to be planted continuously in public places and timberland with forest tree seedlings to be supplied by the Ilocos Norte government.

Originally, the solar project proponent proposed to cut 1,281 trees but this was opposed by some environment advocates and the Ilocos Norte government saying the number is too much.

A re-inventory of the trees to be cut was again conducted and this resulted to a reduction of almost 50 percent, or some 681 trees were spared.

Currimao Mayor Gladys Cue and other Currimao and DENR officials sign the "Certificate of No Objection" that may soon pave the way to cut the trees for the solar power farm project (DENR photos) 

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In addition to the P25 million reforestation project, Soleq Philippines Inc. also committed to allocate P30 million or a total of P55 million for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project for its host communities.

According to Ms. Cue, the amount will be used for the purchase of a brand new fire truck, scholarship grants, refurbishment of school buildings and maintenance of main roads among others.

For local residents here who depend financially mostly on fishing and farming, the coming of a big time investor here would mean more livelihood and job opportunities and lower electric bills for them.

The construction of the 20-megawatt solar project is expected to commence in June as the company hopes to start its commercial operation by January 2016 to power up about 8,000 households.

Last March, Father Robert Reyes, popularly known as the “running priest” visited Laoag City to reiterate his call to stop the cutting trees. As he met with students at the Northwestern University, he urged Ilocanos to do their share in protecting the environment.

Father Reyes also met with Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos expressing his discomfort about the cutting of trees in Currimao town.

 

“It’s absolutely hard to plant trees in sand dunes where there is no top soil. These trees were planted about 30 years ago or so. But some have to be cut,” Ms. Marcos earlier said as she underscored she is not against the project and hopes the number will be brought down.

To ensure that the project will be beneficial to the people of Currimao and to the entire province in general, Atty. Joel Garcia, in his capacity as chairperson of the committee on environment of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan said the provincial government has proposed a co-development plan for the project.

Last November, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) granted a tree cutting permit provided these will be replaced with thousands of seedlings through a reforestation program to be funded by the project proponent for at least three years.

Regardless of the number of trees to replace the old-growth trees in a forest area covering Bimmanga, Paguludan-Salindeg villages, Fr. Reyes maintained trees are living creatures created by God and no amount could replace it.