BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 12:50:00 03/15/2013
Naval, Biliran – A group of Biliranons numbering to 45 were blocked on their way going to the project site of the Biliran geothermal project of the Biliran Geothermal Incorporated (BGI), according to a source.
The purpose of the group was to visit the Biliran geothermal project, the source confided.
The source, together with the other companion who personally volunteered to join the visit, was with the group that was led by Monsignors Marvin Maceda and Venancio Sosing of the diocese of Naval, a number of nuns and residents of the municipality of Caibiran.
The incident happened on March 14, Thursday, at around 9:30 in the morning while the group was on their way to the Biliran geothermal project site in Sitio Pulang Yuta in Barangay Cabibihan in the municipality of Caibiran, the source told.
The coverage of the exploration drilling of the Biliran geothermal project includes the barangays of Cabibihan and Villavicenta in Caibiran town according to a report.
The source told that two men in camouflage uniform believed to be from the Biliran Provincial Police Office stopped the group from going further to the project site.
He added that they were stopped by the two men in camouflage uniform from going further because they were not wearing safety protective gear and they might be harmed by falling rock debris.
However, he narrated that some of their companion were able to proceed further to the project site since they were riding on a four-wheeled service vehicle while they were just walking going to the project site.
The source also told that there was no signage to be seen in the geothermal project site informing the public when the civil works of the road going in the project site has started.
What they saw only was a signage of a certain Atty. Lee, the administrator of the lot, prohibiting entrance on his private lot but where a road right of way was given going to the project site.
After several minutes, a group of policemen from the Caibiran police station arrived in the place where they were stopped, the source added.
The source further told that the chief of the Caibiran police station said that they were informed that a chaos happened in the Biliran geothermal project site.
However, the chief of Caibiran police station noted that no such reported chaos took place in the place reported, the source said.
After a few hours, a group of policemen in camouflaged uniform from the Biliran Provincial Police Office also arrived in the area riding in a pick-up service vehicle, the source informed.
The source even asked a certain Kirby Valencia, safety engineer of BGI on the project site, if they have the available protective gears for the visitors but found out later that they have no available protective gears for the visitors.
He further asked Valencia if they can provide protective gears if they have the chance to visit the project site on the next day, March 15. However, Valencia replied that there are no available protective gears as of the moment.
The BGI safety engineer only promised to lend a vehicle and a tour guide in going to the project site, the source further said.
A certain Mr. Alberto Santos, chief of the environment department of GHD, the environmental consulting firm of BGI, told them that a consultation and information dissemination are needed with the people regarding the security procedures and the bad and good effects of the geothermal project, the source further informed.
On the part of the BGI management, an official statement was released through Biliranisland.com which states that “BGI pursuant to its commitment to involve the people of Biliran in monitoring its geothermal project and activity in the province welcomes visitors to its project site in Sitio Pulang Yuta, Cabibihan, Caibiran but would like to request that BGI be informed of any intention or plan for site visit at least one or two days ahead to prepare for the safety and security of the visitors. Thus, our visitors this morning led by Caibiran parish who were able to get inside without prior notice were intercepted before they reach the 2nd road break for safety and security”.
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