The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list Representative and House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro is criticizing the recent Masungi Georeserve drilling in Rizal, in relation to a planned wind energy project in the area.
Castro pushed for the ceasing of drilling in the Masungi Karst Conservation Area by the Rizal Wind Energy Corporation (RWEC) under its parent company, the Singapore-based firm Vena Energy, as it had posed a threat to the environment, specifically the potential damage to local bird and bat species, as well as the ecosystem, as reported by Inquirer.
The partylist representative also pushed for the suspension and relocation of the project, as well as the withdrawal of all the company’s permits, citing potential environmental outcomes similar to the recent Mindanao floods.
The lawmaker had also called the attention of Congress to probe into the recent violation of the protected area, expressing the opinion that businessmen were out to penetrate the Masungi Georeserve to exploit its natural resources.
However, Vena Energy countered that it had secured all the needed permits for the study of the potential of wind energy in the area.
Nevertheless, the Singaporean firm had already suspended all operations in the area.
Earlier, the Masungi Georeserve Foundation had revealed that the corporation was planning to construct 12 wind turbines in the reserve.
