Ombudsman dips fingers on bio-ethanol project

A new twist on the controversial $2.9 million Korean-proposed bio-ethanol research center located in Talibon town and seaweed project for bio-ethanol production surfaced last week during the public consultation.

Trinidad Mayor Roberto Cajes brought to the attention of the provincial officials a letter from the Ombudsman during the said public consultation.

Talibon Mayor Restituto Auxtero also confirmed in an interview that he indeed received a letter from the Ombudsman Visayas. He said that the office of the Ombudsman Visayas wanted an update of the project. He is even urged to provide vital information regarding the project.

But he did not know who inform the Ombudsman about the project nor did he know the complainant, if any, he said. He said that whatever he has (information or updates) he would not hesitate to provide them to the Ombudsman.

As this developed, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has proposed for the scrapping of the said project unless some environmental and economic terms and condition are met has been approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during last Fridays session.

The move was an offshoot of the multi-sectoral public consultation undertaken held at the Bohol Tropics Resort Club in this city initiated by the provincial government to give opportunity for the stakeholders, including seaweed farmers to voice their concerns.

Gov. Edgar Chatto, who participated in the consultation with Korean officials, stressed that “participatory governance is the name of the game” since the project is the concern of everybody.

The board chaired by Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim approved last Friday a report by the joint committees on environment, agriculture, trade and appropriations that strongly recommended to halt the project.

“It is therefore imperative to stop (cease and desist) all current and ongoing natural resource utilization activities in the seas of Bohol by any and all pertinent foreign entities, companies and corporations,” the report said.

Gov. Egar Chatto is urged by the board to form and convene a technical working group (TWG) to be composed of various government agencies concerned tasked to review the Record of Discussion (ROD) and the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Korean representatives, then Gov. Erido Aumentado and 28 mayors of coastal municipalities.

The ROD was then signed by Kim Jin Oh of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Aumentado, (now congressman) and Graciano Yumul representing the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The ROD focuses on the establishment of bio-ethanol research center while the MOU, which does not have the imprimatur of the board, concerns about (sea) areas for seaweed mass production supposedly to be provided by the provincial government and the municipalities.

The board also recommended for the comprehensive bio-ethanol research on environmental impact, coastal marine resource and its carrying capacity, impact on seaweed farms, employment and other economic implication.

Biolsystems Co., Ltd., a Seoul-based company, through its sister Algahol company, has developed a marine farm in Talibon town and is said to put up a US$150-million facility for bio-ethanol extraction, biomass power generation and organic fertilizer production and the US$2.9 million algae bio-ethanol research center funded as a grant by the KOICA. Biolsystems will “lead investment into seaweeds aquaculture, bio-fuel production and post harvest industries,” the MOU provides.

It is also allowed to conduct research and development of improved methods for higher yield of algae species and marketing methods and should give priority to Boholanos in hiring manpower. The company should not cause environmental and eco-tourism degradation as a result of the bio-fuel production.

The seaweed farmers and other stakeholders in Danajon Double Barrier Reef between Cebu and Bohol raised a howl for they were not consulted. The fisherfolk are largely banking on this Danajon Bank, considered a rare marine eco-systems formation and only one in Asia one of six in the world, for their main source of livelihood.

source: theboholstandard