The ambitious hydro project in Cantacoy, Danao, which generated too much controversy after it was caught in a political squabble between two opposing political factions was relegated to the back burner, in the meantime, while, environmental problems have yet to be addressed. This means that the P1.3 billion Cantakoy mini-hydro project will have to be suspended indefinitely in an order by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), an attached office of the Cebu-based Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). EMB Regional Director Fernando P. Quililan of Region VII, issued an order dated May 23, 2012, suspending the initial operations of the project “until after all the terms and conditions set forth in the ECC are complied with. This was confirmed yesterday morning by Board Member Josephine Socorro Jumamoy, who read a copy of the order she received before her colleagues during the regular session Friday.

The lady board member from Inabanga was one of the vocal critics of the project citing the lack of social marketability giving rise to speculations that it was rammed through the throats of stakeholders who were not afforded prior consultations before the undertaking took off in orbit. EMB said that after judicious examination, the project proponents “failed to comply with the terms and conditions of said ECC,” said Quililan in his order. It further said, “Such failure was even admitted by Ryan Alvin R. Acosta, authorized representative of Quadriver Energy Corp., a part of the project consortium, during the technical conference held in the afternoon of 23 of May 2012.” EMB said that Acosta promised in behalf of the corporation to abide by the ECC terms. The EMB move was an apparent offshoot of the Bohol provincial board’s Resolution No. 2012-261, requesting the EMB “to stop the construction and operation” of the project pending compliance with the ECC conditions. The suspension order entirely followed the board’s request following the conduct of an investigation by the EMB through technical meetings with the proponents based on the findings submitted by Nestor Canda, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Bohol. Despite this latest development, the provincial board remains steadfast in resolving the project’s lapses and controversies spawned by the project in conducting its own separate probe that ended past five in the afternoon last Friday with at least five testimonies being heard.

PRAISES

Vice-Gov. Concepcion O. Lim, who presided over the session, was emphatic in her appreciation of the valiant stand of Jumamoy and Board Member Romulo Cepedoza and to all board members who stood as one to question the propriety of the project. In fact, Jumamoy was even overhead to have reacted that the initial victory attending the suspension of the project was a “ first base triumph”. Both Jumamoy and Cepedoza blew the whistle on the project’s lapses in separate privilege speeches before the halls of the SP giving rise to the subsequent investigation of the law-making body acting as a whole. The board members accused the project proponents for not conducting social preparation, inflicting environmental degradation on the project site and alleged short-changing of the LGUs of Inabanga and Danao. The project traverses both municipalities sharing Wahig-Inabanga river as the main source of water for mini-hydro power plant and generation.

ECC

ECC No. RO7-0903-018-0120 issued on August 11, 2009 by then EMB regional director Rolando N. Luego of DENR in Cebu covers the proposed 5.2-megawatt project located in Cantakoy Falls, Barangay Cabatuan, Danao town with an area coverage of about 53 hectares, Canda said in his findings. It includes the development and operation component of the small 30-meter high dam “fitted with radial gates as well as sluice gates will be constructed to create head and small impoundment penstock, pipe of approximately 53 meters long embedded in concrete, 2.4/69kv step transformers in the open air, tailrace, switchyard and access road to the power plant as indicated in the submitted IEER document,” he said. ECC is not a permit per se, said Talibon-based OIC Community environment and Natural Resources Officer Palaca, but a set of conditions for the project proponent to follow mainly to cushion the impact of environmental degradation and for protection purposes. From originally 5.2MW, the project’s capacity is now proposed to raise to 8 MW as proposed based on the ECC amendment on September 9, 2011. The dam height has been increased to some 40 meters from 30 meters.

TESTIMONIES

The SP committee as a whole presided over by Board Member Abeleon Damalerio had at least five personalities from Danao testified under oath last Friday afternoon. They were municipal planning and development coordinator designate Ms. Loinda Coritico, municipal Engr. Valentin Doroy, Cabatuan barangay captain Monico Gonzaga and two others from the Department of Public Works and Highways second engineering district. Earlier , the body called on Danao Sangguniang Bayan secretary Anunciado, Canda and company and DPWH district Engr. Gregorio Sayson to bear witness on the project’s initial operations during the committee’s hearing presided over by Lim.

DEFENSE

In an interview, Danao Mayor Tom Gonzaga, who favoured the project was furious in his defense to have the project implemented for the town. He said there have been no shortcuts as alleged by its detractors. He said that the project proponents have faithfully complied with what are required of the project to commence. All the brickbats against the project are giving a “wrong signal” to those who want to invest with their resources like its main proponent Ayala Group of Companies. He described the criticisms lodged against the project as unfortunate that detractors would like to make it appear that the project is irregular or anomalous. He strongly raised the concern on why no one hoisted similar criticisms when hydro plant projects in Hanopol, Balilihan and Sevilla towns were constructed. Why single out Cantakoy, he asked. He added that Danao folk are saddened by this latest development. The innovative mayor, as his constituents described him, has made progress and continues to do so to uplift the living conditions of his flock. Some would like to call him the “father of extreme tourism adventure” is instrumental in the construction and operation of the zipline, (the first in the province), rappelling, para-gliding, the canyon swing or the plunge, and more. They (adventure activities) are becoming an envy to other towns that are now imitating them. The extreme adventure continues to generate millions of income from the adventure tourism potentials in this once sleepy interior but historical town, he said.

Danao politics muddle Cantakoy hydro plant

There is no doubt about the role that Danao politics is playing in the controversies hounding the Cantakoy Hydropower Plant (CHP). Danao Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga says town politics is behind the complete turn-around of some of its most ardent supporters to its vocal critics. Gonzaga pointed out that as early as his first term, CHP was already identified among his priority projects. “Among the people who expressed support for the project were Vice Mayor (Jose) Cepedoza and his brother, now Board Member (Romulo) Cepedoza,” Gonzaga recalled. The mayor said that since the start, the Cepedozas, who are his first-degree cousins, were aware of the potentials that the project brings. “You can see from the many pieces of legislations enacted on the project that they were involved in it without reservations,” he pointed out.

Gonzaga said that for them to turn around and see everything wrong with the project now can only be explained by the vice-mayor’s desire to return to the position he occupied for three terms. “That is his privilege, but it is unfortunate that he is using the project the wrong way,” the mayor added. Gonzaga lamented that CHP has been subjected to trial by publicity primarily by Board Member Cepedoza who delivered a privilege speech and initiated a fact-finding investigation “as though we committed a grave anomaly”. The mayor earlier expressed bewilderment at why CHP is being treated differently from the hydro power projects in Hanopol, Balilihan and Sevilla. He did not elaborate on reports that the Bohol Electric Cooperatives also did not go through the same requirements being demanded from Cantakoy. Gonzaga said that CHP has complied with practically all of the requirements under Republic Act 7156 granting incentives to mini-hydro electric power developers and for other purposes.

He declined to comment on the alleged shortcuts detailed by critics, insisting that the law is on the side of the project proponents. “Even before it can start, Cantakoy has to deal with a negative perception which is undeserved because it has not deliberately committed violations and offenses as the adverse news reports imply,” he added. Gonzaga said it is unfortunate that instead of defending Danao’s interest at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Board Member Cepedoza has instead acted as its no. 1 persecutor. “He nearly succeeded in holding Danao’s budget hostage and now he is obstructing a project that our people see as a catalyst for progress,” he added. Gonzaga said his people have rejected the aggressive recruitment campaign waged by outsiders against the project. “This is a project they know so well because it has been promoted since my first term and which should have been completed at this time if not for unforeseen circumstances,” he added. The mayor said that contrary to what it is made to appear, CHP is in fact well behind schedule. “It is trying to make up for lost time but this can never be enough to recover the lost years and lost opportunities,” he added. Gonzaga said he is confident that in due time, the fog of misconceptions will clear up and that Cantakoy will be able to function as it was conceived – to help meet the shortage in Bohol’s power consumption. “Hopefully, time will also make right the wrongs inflicted on the lives of the people involved in the project through no fault of their own,” he concluded.