Masungi caretakers resist planned wind energy farm

Masungi caretakers resist planned wind energy farm

Caretakers of the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal province are calling for the revocation of all government permits or certifications for a planned wind energy farm in the fragile protected area.

The Masungi Georeserve Foundation (MGF) last week said Rizal Wind Energy Corp. (RWEC) had been drilling inside the Masungi Karst Conservation Area (MKCA) in Tanay municipality where the company plans to erect 12 wind turbines.

The Board of Investments announced in February 2019 the approval of RWEC’s 603-megawatt power project. It was unclear from the announcement, however, whether all of the electricity that would be produced would come from Tanay or also from wind turbines located in other Rizal towns.

The MGF wants the project relocated outside the protected area as the turbines pose a “fatal” threat to the local bird and bat species. It said that any ground disturbance could also trigger the collapse of sinkholes.

Drilling stopped in Nov

The MKCA is an area made up largely of karst or limestone and other soft rocks that dissolve in water and easily erode, especially with human activity involving heavy machinery.

The Singapore-based Vena Energy, RWEC’s parent company, said on Friday that it had halted all of its drilling, soil testing and other studies in the area since November 2023 following a meeting with representatives from MGF.

“We have been working closely with government authorities, securing all necessary permits, including the environmental compliance certificate (ECC), for the study on the potential of wind energy. We adhere to the applicable laws and regulations on environment and protected areas,” Angela Tan, Vena Energy corporate communications group head, told the Inquirer.

According to the MGF cofounder Billie Dumaliang, RWEC representatives told them that the project was in the “advanced predevelopment stage” in preparation for commercialization after securing permits.

For MGF, the main issue

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