Perceptions on Common Property in Ecosystems Under Stress: The Case Study of the Mt. APO Geothermal Plant

Abstract

"On January 23, 1993, the President of the Philippines endorsed the continuation of the Mt. Apo Geothermal Plant amidst controversy and concern voiced by non-government organizations and church groups. The Philippines has for a long time been plagued by power failure to the extreme detriment of the industrial sector and consequently, the economy. The government felt that it should tap the abundant geothermal resources of the country, particularly in Mt. Apo. However, the mountain is located within a national park. To complicate things, the proposed site of the geothermal plant is near the summit of the mountain, held sacred by cultural minorities in Central Mindanao. Building and operating the plant would greatly ease the energy burden of the country. However, it would violate the statutes concerning the exploitation of resources within a national park. Furthermore, tribal minorities will also view this as a desecration of their 'holy of holies. Mt. Apo is an example of common property in an ecosystem under stress. The perceptions regarding its exploitation differ according to the stakeholders involved. This paper analyzes these differing perceptions and proposes a theoretical-conceptual framework on how common property is viewed given a stressed ecosystem."