THE dumping of coal ash in the former Balili resort in Tina-an, City of Naga lacks an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

Knowing this now, the Province is trying to stop the dumping of coal ash in the property by amending the memorandum of agreement signed by the Cebu Provincial Government and the Korean Electric Power Corp.–Salcon Power Corp. (KSPC).

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The coal ash will be used to reclaim parts of the Balili property, which the governor hopes to develop into a port.

In a related development, the special panel Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia formed to investigate the Balili property purchase is wrapping up its probe, with results expected after its chairman returns to Cebu City next week.

“I left instructions for the final report to be drafted,” said Regional Director Medardo de Lemos Jr. yesterday. He is in Manila for a conference with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) leadership.

Change

With the final report being written, de Lemos said the panel is no longer taking action on the recent move of the Provincial Board (PB) to reopen its own investigation.

“The allegations will last up to infinity. We have to stop at one point,” he said.

A resolution sponsored by Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Peter John Calderon states that the Province and KSPC agree to suspend the use of the landfill facility, pending its completion.

The resolution, passed during the regular session last Monday, was in answer to the letter of Atty. Marino Martinquilla of the Cebu Provincial Legal Office, asking the PB to authorize Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to execute the amendment to the Landfill Facility Services Agreement.

KSPC is also slated to enter into financing agreements with its lenders to finance the construction and operation of its power plant.

“The parties acknowledge that the Landfill Facility may not be completed in accordance with Philippine law and the requirements of the lenders in time for the commissioning tests and the targeted commercial operations of the power plant,” the resolution read.

PB Member Victor Maambong, chairperson of the committee on environment, co-sponsored the resolution. Maambong is set to organize a public hearing on issues concerning public health in relation to coal-fired power plants.

Disclosure

Calderon explained there are two requirements that KSPC needs before it can resume dumping at the Balili property. One is an ECC from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or the construction, development, operation, and maintenance of the landfill.

Second, KSPC should also obtain a certification from KSPC that ash disposal arrangements comply with applicable laws and the lenders’ requirements. The Asian Development Bank, for example, requires safeguards and policies and the public disclosure of the environmental impact assessment of the landfill facility.

“The parties agree that during the term, the Cebu Provincial Government shall arrange for the disposal of the ash to certain cement manufacturers, where such ash shall be recycled as raw materials for the production of cement or other allied products,” the amended agreement read.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, which is conducting a separate fact-finding investigation on the Balili deal, is also in the final stages.

New angle

Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palan-ca Santiago said some revisions are being done on the final evaluation report, intended for submission to Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol.

At least 10 PB members recently voted to support the motion of Majority Floor Leader Victor Maambong to reopen its inquiry.

Maambong cited “new evidence”—the reported admission of PB Member Juan Bolo that he gave the money to pay the taxes for the Balili estate.

A newspaper report quoted Bolo as admitting he gave Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre P50,000 for tax payments, following the Capitol’s purchase of the 25-hectare property for over P97 million.

Maambong questioned the move because the purchase of the property was supposed to be tax-free for the Capitol.

The heirs of Luis J. Balili were supposed to pay the taxes, under the agreement.

Bolo denied the report, however.

“I never gave any amount to anybody,” he said.