Cadiz coal-fired plant has PNoy's nod

CADIZ City Mayor Patrick Escalante revealed Monday that the Coal Fired Power Plant project in the city has already the approval of President Noynoy Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The target date of completion of the coal-fired power plant will be on December 2014, said Escalante.

Governor Alfredo Marañon has also endorsed the project, especially that Negrenses are already starting to experience long brown outs these days.

To rise at the port zone area In Barangay Banquerohan, Cadiz is a 100 megawatt power plant that will be composed of a 23 megawatt diesel-fired power plant and an 83 megawatt coal-fired power plant.

The interested company is Philippine Power Corporation, a conglomeration of Filipino and Chinese investors.

The members of the City Council of Cadiz City have unanimously approved the coal fired power plant project and has already conducted a public hearing on the social acceptability of the project.

"By year 2015 we are already assured of a 100 megawatt coal fired plant in Negros," Escalante disclosed.

Though there are objections to the project, the council has already approved the social acceptability of the project and that it would be up to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to approve the project with finality.

Escalante also emphasized that Negros needs this coal-fired power plant due to the looming power shortage in the province this coming 2015. (Teresa D. Ellera)