Power plant project widely opposed by IP

In the news article titled “Chevron, APC plan to put up geothermal power plant in Kalinga” (Inquirer, 6/11/12), APC Group chair and president Willy Ocier proudly declared: “We’ve secured all IP [indigenous people] approvals for Kalinga.”

Ocier’s statement is not true. Many of the communities to be affected by the proposed geothermal power plant have not yet given their free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). One of their reasons for withholding their consent is the refusal or failure of the project proponents to directly deal or talk with them. Instead, Chevron and APC have employed intermediaries to convince these communities to give their FPIC to the proposed project.

The communities do not want to deal with these intermediaries, who are viewed as brokers. They want the project proponents to talk directly to them so community members can judge the proponents’ real intentions.

It is sad that Chevron and APC see in the process of securing the FPIC an obstacle or just another technical requirement to be complied with, instead of an opportunity to involve the affected communities in their project.

Ocier’s statement only proves that the people of Kalinga are right all along in viewing Chevron and APC’s intentions with suspicion.  Obviously, Ocier’s false statement was intended to generate more business rather than to report the real status of the geothermal power plant proposal. It seems that he is more interested in drilling the stock market than in drilling for steam.

—ERROL COMAFAY,

Taraki, Purok 5,

Barangay Bulanao,

Tabuk City, Kalinga