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Singapore-based Vena Corporation has withdrawn plans to install five wind turbines inside the Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape (CPHPL), marking a major development in the ongoing debate over balancing renewable energy expansion with environmental protection in Calbayog City.
The decision came after sustained lobbying from environmental groups, including the Save Calbayog Rivers Foundation (SACRIFICE), and growing calls from local stakeholders for stricter safeguards over the city’s watershed and biodiversity areas.
During a Sangguniang Panlungsod session, Vena Corporation Senior Manager for Project Development Nichael Joseph A. Muncal presented a revised technical layout for the company’s proposed wind farm project. The updated plan relocates the affected turbines outside the strict protection zone of the CPHPL.
The wind energy development, which now involves 37 turbines within Calbayog City, remains one of the largest renewable energy initiatives in Eastern Visayas. The project forms part of the broader ₱20.2-billion Gemini Wind Energy project of Vena Energy’s local unit, which aims to generate more than 300 megawatts of renewable power for the region by 2026.
Mayor Raymund “Monmon” Uy said the city government supports renewable energy investments but stressed that projects must undergo careful scientific and environmental scrutiny.
“Renewable energy initiatives are encouraged, but implementation must be anchored on ecological responsibility, scientific validation, and long-term environmental sustainability,” Uy said during the session.
Environmental groups welcomed the company’s decision to remove turbines from the protected area but maintained that broader concerns over watershed stability and biodiversity remain unresolved.
Watershed Protection
The CPHPL, established under Proclamation No. 1158 in 1998, covers more than 5,000 hectares and serves as the primary watershed for Calbayog and nearby communities. The protected landscape contains waterfalls, rivers, forests, caves, and habitats for endangered wildlife species.
Environmental advocates have warned that heavy construction activities, including road cuts, drilling, and tree clearing, could destabilize slopes and threaten water systems relied upon by thousands of residents.
The Calbayog Water District, which serves more than 19,000 water connections, previously reported supply interruptions during severe weather conditions and increasing pressure on existing sources.
SACRIFICE President Eleen Lim reiterated the need for full compliance with protected area boundaries and environmental safeguards throughout the project’s implementation.
Academic and environmental experts who attended the city council session also pushed for comprehensive environmental studies before any further construction proceeds. These include a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), hydrological mapping, and biodiversity audits to determine possible effects on watershed systems, wildlife habitats, and nearby communities.
The city government earlier suspended activities within strict protection zones pending scientific evaluations and consultations with stakeholders.
Drawbacks Of Renewable Energy Push
The Calbayog wind project has drawn national attention because of its scale and strategic location within Samar’s renewable energy corridor.
The project was approved under the government’s Green Energy Auction Program and designated as a strategic investment by the Board of Investments.
Supporters say the development could generate local jobs, increase revenues for host communities, and strengthen long-term energy security in Eastern Visayas. Vena Energy currently operates several renewable energy facilities across the Philippines with a combined capacity exceeding 330 megawatts.
However, the project has also become part of a broader national debate over renewable energy developments inside environmentally sensitive areas.
Similar concerns have surfaced in proposed wind energy projects in Masungi Georeserve in Rizal, as well as sites in Quezon and Laguna, where environmental groups raised alarms over possible impacts on biodiversity, flooding, and water resources.
Questions over zoning changes inside the protected landscape also fueled opposition to the Calbayog project. Critics argued that revisions to management maps expanded multiple-use zones while reducing strict protection areas, potentially allowing more infrastructure development inside the watershed.
City Officials Seek Balanced Approach
Vice Mayor Rex M. Daguman presided over the Feb. 24 session attended by members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, reflecting what local officials described as a unified effort to balance renewable energy development with environmental protection.
Stakeholders are now studying alternative turbine locations outside strict protection zones while maintaining the project’s renewable energy targets.
Local officials and environmental groups said future decisions must involve stronger community consultations, transparent technical assessments, and science-based planning to ensure that Calbayog’s push for clean energy will not come at the expense of its critical watershed and ecological resources.
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