BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 17:10:00 01/10/2013
Last Updated 18:25:00 01/10/2013
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Biliran province will conduct a public hearing on the Biliran Geothermal project tomorrow, Friday, January 11, at 1 pm in the SP session hall located at the Biliran provincial capitol compound in Barangay Calumpang in Naval town.
The public hearing is purposely conducted to hear the different views, opinions, issues and concerns regarding the project before SP-Biliran will craft and approve a final legislation approving the exploration drilling of the three exploration wells of the Biliran Geothermal project.
The SP-Biliran members led by Vice-Gov. Manuel B. Montejo, Jr. have conducted an on-site visits to Palinpinon Geothermal plant in Negros Oriental and in Tongonan Geothermal plant this week with the purpose of conducting an in-depth inquiry for the SP-Biliran to arrive of a win-win legislation most beneficial to the province of Biliran in general.
It can be recalled than an issue came out in the Sangguniang Bayan of Caibiran whether or not the resolution said to be approved by Vice-Mayor Gracia Baribe holds water amidst the fact that the approval has been questioned by its 5 SB members.
The barangay councils of the two barangays in Caibiran, Cabibihan and Villavicenta, have already passed and approved resolutions expressing full support to the Biliran Geothermal project.
An official of Orka Energy said that exploration drillings will be made first in the two barangays in Caibiran.
Meanwhile, SB-Naval has not passed yet a local legislation approving the exploration drilling on the geothermal project. However, the barangay council of Barangay Libtong in Naval town which is covered by the geothermal project has already passed a resolution approving the exploration drilling that will also be possibly made in the barangay.
On the other hand, the religious sector represented by the priests in the diocese of Naval, have voiced out their strong concern on the geothermal project in Biliran province due to the absence of a clear and definite parameters on the issue of environmental protection set forth by the company undertaking the geothermal project.