http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/opinion/2013/07/15/brett-winds-lands-and-discord-292526
THE proposed Sagada-Besao Wind Farm has recently been a consistent point of debate and conflict for locals and non-locals alike and all the other stakeholders in the implementation of this project. As in most scenarios of an upcoming change, there are always two opposing sides—those who are in favor, and those who are against. This tendered project is no exception; some locals who obviously see the benefits are pushing for the realization of this while others adamantly crusade against it.
For a local who’s currently not living in the community, I can only observe and try my best to be updated. But as a local too who knows no other home, I want to join in the bandwagon of voices involved in this. Seeing that even non-villagers are actively participating on the ongoing disparity, it would be a shame to sit around complacently and complain only when the need arises. I am writing this not to advocate any side as I don’t have the knowledge and expertise to know what’s more favorable for the majority regarding this. I can only share my two cents.
THE proposed Sagada-Besao Wind Farm has recently been a consistent point of debate and conflict for locals and non-locals alike and all the other stakeholders in the implementation of this project. As in most scenarios of an upcoming change, there are always two opposing sides—those who are in favor, and those who are against. This tendered project is no exception; some locals who obviously see the benefits are pushing for the realization of this while others adamantly crusade against it.
For a local who’s currently not living in the community, I can only observe and try my best to be updated. But as a local too who knows no other home, I want to join in the bandwagon of voices involved in this. Seeing that even non-villagers are actively participating on the ongoing disparity, it would be a shame to sit around complacently and complain only when the need arises. I am writing this not to advocate any side as I don’t have the knowledge and expertise to know what’s more favorable for the majority regarding this. I can only share my two cents.
Having a wind farm in our own locality sounds very promising for obvious reasons. It is an inexhaustible source of energy; virtually a limitless resource and has a huge potential to generate energy on a large scale, among all these other advantages that can be harnessed from the emplacement of wind turbines. For being a host community, Sagada can derive financial benefits from the utilization of our natural resources. And that would mean stocking a lot into our municipal coffers, if this was indeed the case.
On the other side of the coin, wind farms come with their own disadvantages. Winds are unpredictable; wind strength is not constant hence it’s not a guarantee that the amount of energy produced will be continuously reliable. Wind turbines can be definite threats to wildlife; their natural habitats being severely disturbed. Visually, they can be unsightly especially in a countryside, and they cause too much noise. For the concerned locality specifically, the major issues being raised are the displacement of trees, the disturbance of the water system and other biodiversity matters (disruption of pasturelands, fishponds, migration paths of birds).
Sagada is a community that capitalizes on tourism as one of its major sources of livelihood. It became a tourist hotspot in the first place because it offers distinctive experiences that aren’t found in other tourist getaways. Aside from the awesome sceneries and unique lifestyle, it’s a rustic countryside that promises escape from the toxic hustles and hurry-scurry of urban areas. The town offers the ‘otherness’ factor that tourists revel in. The idea of a wind farm in this otherwise serene locality, and a getaway haven at that, is kind of off, to simply state it. For a municipality that doesn’t even have a very systematic tourism management, it makes one wonder how it would fare once the biggies come in and take full control of our resources.
We belong in a village where we are very much grounded on our cultural ways and even more protective of our ancestral properties. It is because of this attitude that our culture has remained quite intact despite the rapid proliferation of modernization. We have learned to welcome changes but at the same time clung to our traditions because of the reverence we attach to our age-old beliefs, principles and ways. It is for this very same reason that we sometimes shun seemingly alien intrusions into our village. If to be pursued, the wind farm along Pilaw ridge would be the first of its kind in our country to be built in a mountainous terrain. It’s advantageous in many aspects so to be fair, the idea doesn’t merit to be killed and flushed down the drain. At the same time, though those benefits can be as humongous as those windmills, but is our little town the right place for this? If yes, convince us—the locals, the common folk, the stakeholders who should know bit by bit what’s going to happen and what is to be expected afterwards. Admittedly, I’m scared. And I’ll just staunchly assume that it’s not just me who wants to be shed some light so to feel otherwise.
I didn’t want to delve on the rocket science aspect of this whole thing because as earlier mentioned, I’m sincerely not savvy on this and do not have the needed chops to talk big about the matter. I’m trying to look at things as a common local and as an unlettered but curious stakeholder who’s entitled to participate and be in the know with regards the progress of this impending project. This is to enjoin everyone else to be informed and abreast of the goings-on. That though we may be divided with our stands and sentiments, we should be in the loop of such huge change, and expected changes that infiltrate our hometown.
On the other side of the coin, wind farms come with their own disadvantages. Winds are unpredictable; wind strength is not constant hence it’s not a guarantee that the amount of energy produced will be continuously reliable. Wind turbines can be definite threats to wildlife; their natural habitats being severely disturbed. Visually, they can be unsightly especially in a countryside, and they cause too much noise. For the concerned locality specifically, the major issues being raised are the displacement of trees, the disturbance of the water system and other biodiversity matters (disruption of pasturelands, fishponds, migration paths of birds).
Sagada is a community that capitalizes on tourism as one of its major sources of livelihood. It became a tourist hotspot in the first place because it offers distinctive experiences that aren’t found in other tourist getaways. Aside from the awesome sceneries and unique lifestyle, it’s a rustic countryside that promises escape from the toxic hustles and hurry-scurry of urban areas. The town offers the ‘otherness’ factor that tourists revel in. The idea of a wind farm in this otherwise serene locality, and a getaway haven at that, is kind of off, to simply state it. For a municipality that doesn’t even have a very systematic tourism management, it makes one wonder how it would fare once the biggies come in and take full control of our resources.
We belong in a village where we are very much grounded on our cultural ways and even more protective of our ancestral properties. It is because of this attitude that our culture has remained quite intact despite the rapid proliferation of modernization. We have learned to welcome changes but at the same time clung to our traditions because of the reverence we attach to our age-old beliefs, principles and ways. It is for this very same reason that we sometimes shun seemingly alien intrusions into our village. If to be pursued, the wind farm along Pilaw ridge would be the first of its kind in our country to be built in a mountainous terrain. It’s advantageous in many aspects so to be fair, the idea doesn’t merit to be killed and flushed down the drain. At the same time, though those benefits can be as humongous as those windmills, but is our little town the right place for this? If yes, convince us—the locals, the common folk, the stakeholders who should know bit by bit what’s going to happen and what is to be expected afterwards. Admittedly, I’m scared. And I’ll just staunchly assume that it’s not just me who wants to be shed some light so to feel otherwise.
I didn’t want to delve on the rocket science aspect of this whole thing because as earlier mentioned, I’m sincerely not savvy on this and do not have the needed chops to talk big about the matter. I’m trying to look at things as a common local and as an unlettered but curious stakeholder who’s entitled to participate and be in the know with regards the progress of this impending project. This is to enjoin everyone else to be informed and abreast of the goings-on. That though we may be divided with our stands and sentiments, we should be in the loop of such huge change, and expected changes that infiltrate our hometown.