The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it is still finalizing the guidelines on the proposed solar panel projects in Laguna de Bay.
This, as several groups continue to raise concerns over the possible environmental impacts of floating solar panels to the lake's ecosystem, as well as to the livelihood of small fishermen who depend on the lake.
During the "Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas" forum organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Calamba City this Thursday, December 12, DENR officials acknowledged that the presence of floating solar panels in Laguna de Bay could have a potentially large "footprint," or impact on the lake's ecosystem.
"Kaya po hindi pa matuluy-tuloy ang mga project na ito ay dahil hindi pa po napa-finalize ang guidelines on the floating solar panels," Nilo Tamoria, regional executive director of DENR Calabarzon, responded to a question from OpinYon Laguna.
"Ang footprint ng isang solar panel ay malaki po, at kung floating po ito ay mayroon po itong kaukulang biodiversity sa ilalim ng katubigan na magkakaroon naman po ng impact," Tamoria explained.
As was reported by OpinYon Laguna earlier this year, at least three major power-generating firms - Blueleaf Energy, SunAsia Energy and ACEN Corporation - have announced plans to construct large-scale solar power plants in the middle of Laguna de Bay.
While these companies have touted floating solar energy plants as a viable alternative to ground-based solar power plants, fishermen's groups have expressed concerns that the construction of the new floating solar panels in Laguna Lake could impact not only the environment but also the livelihood of fisherfolks who depend on the lake.
"Bagama't nandoon po ang pangangailangan natin para sa [sustainable] source of energy, we cannot do it at the expense of an ecosystem," the DENR official added.
Tamoria also pointed out that letting power firms construct solar panels in Laguna de Bay without the necessary rules could lead to the lake's biological death.
"Valid po ang concerns ng mga nagpoprotesta, at iyon din po ang dahilan kung bakit po tayo patuloy na sinasaliksik ang mga patakaran na gagabay sa pagtatayo ng floating solar panels," he said.
Land use LGUs’ responsibility
Other critical issues raised by local media during the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” forum include the issues of waste disposal; land use and the problem of flooding; and illegal quarrying and logging operations.
Tamoria, for instance, urged local government units (LGUs) in the province to make use of the geohazard maps provided by the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for their own land-use plans.
The official made this remark upon a query about the recent floods experienced by residents living near Laguna de Bay after severe tropical storm “Kristine” struck Luzon last October.
“Kasi po, ang nagtatakda po ng [land] conversion ay yung land use at zoning ordinances na binalangkas ng mga lokal na pamahalaan,” Tamoria pointed out.
“Mayroon pong input ang DENR sa land use plan, pero wala po kaming mandato pagdating sa land conversion. Pero namamahagi rin po kami ng mga geohazard maps na nagpapakita kung aling areas ang landslide-prone, flood-prone, para po mai-konsidera ng mga LGU. At may mandato po si Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na gamitin ang mga geohazard maps na iyon ng MGB at DENR.”
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