23/03/2026
The Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Environmental Management Bureau shows that the proposed Rizal Wind Power Project will pass through three legally protected areas in Rizal Province. These include the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape, the Kaliwa River Forest Reserve, and land covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 1636, which designates the area as a National Park, Game Preserve, and Wildlife Sanctuary. These zones are recognized for their ecological importance because they support biodiversity conservation, watershed protection, and the survival of endemic plant and animal species. The overlap between the project’s planned infrastructure and these protected landscapes has raised concerns about potential impacts on the ecological stability of the region.
Particular attention has been drawn to the placement of 16 wind turbines within the Masungi Karst Conservation Area, a geologically sensitive landscape characterized by limestone formations, caves, sinkholes, and interconnected underground water systems. Karst ecosystems are known to be extremely fragile because disturbances to rock structures can alter groundwater recharge, disrupt natural drainage patterns, and threaten species adapted to these environments. Environmental experts emphasize that while renewable energy projects play an important role in reducing carbon emissions, careful planning and strict environmental safeguards are essential to ensure that climate solutions do not compromise biodiversity and the protection of natural heritage.
Science Department |
