Leyte town welcomes proposed geothermal exploration

CARIGARA, Leyte – The local government here is open to geothermal explorations in its upland areas hugging the neighboring mountains of Kananga town and Ormoc City, which are the prime sources of geothermal energy for  the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).

Carigara Mayor Eduardo Ong said on Thursday they can look at further economic benefits for the town should a geothermal source be discovered.

This, after he learned that the EDC is interested in conducting geothermal exploration and possibly expand its renewable energy resource to Carigara town.

The mayor was referring to the local government unit’s share of 40 percent from the gross collection derived by the national government from royalties and other taxes, fees, or charges in any co-production, joint venture, or production sharing agreement in the utilization and development of the national wealth within their territorial jurisdiction.

He cited how the neighboring town of Kananga has grown economically with the existence of the EDC Leyte Geothermal Production Field in the area.

“Not only will the local government benefit from such a company, but also the host village itself,” Ong said.

Meanwhile, he added that his readiness to support geothermal explorations stems from the fact that geothermal energy is clean, renewable, and can provide stable power 24 hours a day.

Also, it relies heavily on healthy forests to recharge the geothermal reservoir, thus forests can at the same time be preserved and taken care of.

EDC tapped the vast reservations underneath Leyte’s dead volcanic backyard, developing technology that effectively provides not only clean power, but also pioneered environmental and corporate social responsibility practices that benefit people living around the reservation.

EDC Leyte Geothermal Production Field is considered as the geothermal titan with over 700 megawatts of geothermal power, beating at the heart of its 107,625 hectares geothermal reservation and is the country’s biggest geothermal project and the acclaimed world’s largest wet steam field.

The 30-year old renewable energy project has been providing electricity not only to the residents of Leyte but to the entire Philippines through the national power grid. (Sarwell Meniano/PNA)

Popular

On Teachers’ Month, DepEd notes good news for teachers

By Brian Campued As the Philippines joins the global community in honoring the invaluable contributions of teachers in shaping the next generation’s leaders and professionals,...

Phivolcs identifies fault that caused magnitude 6.9 Cebu quake

By Brian Campued State seismologists have located the source of the powerful offshore earthquake that jolted northern Cebu and the rest of Visayas on Sept....

PBBM: Launch of new dairy farm to boost local milk production, supply

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed optimism that the inauguration of the Farm Fresh Milk...

PBBM leads distribution of various aid to Aeta communities in Pampanga

By Brian Campued In celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples Month this October, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the turnover of various forms of...