DUMAGUETE CITY – Governor Roel Degamo is calling on local chief executives in the towns and cities of Negros Oriental to actively push for renewable energy, reject coal-fired power plants, and come up with initiatives to support the fight against climate change.
The governor reiterated his statement at noon Tuesday upon his return to Dumaguete City from a speaking engagement in Baguio City.
“I am appealing to the (local) chief executives in the province nga maghimo pod sila ug initiatives nga mag preserbar pod sa atong environment (I am appealing to the local chief executive in the province to come up with their own initiatives for the preservation of the environment),” he told reporters in an interview.
Degamo reiterated his support to renewable energy as he pointed out that Executive Order No. 9, which he had issued early this year, prohibits the establishment/operation of coal-fired power plants in the province.
“Dili sila pwede maka operate if they are using coal and other fossil fuels like (They cannot operate if they are using coal and other fossil fuels) as these will emit massive carbon dioxide into the air,” the governor said.
The governor said he is not just opposed to coal plants alone but also other commercial operations that would entail the use of coal, “og kanang gi ingon nga uling kay mao kini ang maka trigger nga mamutol ug kahoy ang atong mga katawhan” (because this will encourage people to cut trees).”
“I am serious with this, and I want the people to know that Negros Oriental is serious in addressing the needs of the time,” Degamo said.
The restoration of the environment is costly, and therefore it is best to undertake measures that would prevent environmental degradation and destruction instead, he added.
Degamo is thankful that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Oriental, local governments, the church, and other stakeholders have adopted Executive Order No. 9.
The governor was given a standing ovation on Monday in Baguio when he spoke during the State of Nature Assessment (SONA), which was organized by the Green Convergence group in partnership with the Forest Foundation of the Philippines and Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
“Nalipay pod ta ug dako ky nalipay pod sila sa atong mensahe nga atong gipaabot didto nila nga mga environmentalists ug uban pa (I am happy that my message was met with a positive response from the environmentalists and the others), he said.
“Siguro gikuha ta nga usa sa ilang speaker because of our commitment to support renewable energy in our province (They must have invited me as a speaker because of our commitment to support renewable energy in the province).”
Degamo described coal as “incredibly dirty” as he pushed for renewables such as geothermal power which can be found in Negros Oriental, referring to the EDC’s 222.5-megawatt Palinpinon geothermal power plants in Valencia town.
He also mentioned in his presentation during the Green SONA that “while our geothermal reserve is potentially vast, we need to venture into other sources of renewable energies to meet the Visayas region’s growing electricity needs”. (PNA)
