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Saturday, September 17, 2005
Naga to get P2B from power plants
Naga town in southern Cebu will get at least P2 billion in taxes in 25 years if Salcon-Kepco Inc. will be allowed to put up a coal-fired power plant there.
The community hosting the plant will also get some P300 million in benefits, more jobs and business opportunities.
Reiverio Lastimoso, representative of Salcon Power Corp., announced this during yesterday’s public hearing arranged by the committee on environment of the Provincial Board (PB).
As the coal business is expected to boom, Lastimoso assured they will use local coal in their plant.
Opposed
The plan to put up a coal-fired power plant has been opposed by militant groups and nongovernment organizations, who believe the facility is hazardous to health and environment.
Mark Israel, of the Cebu Alliance for Renewable Energy (Care), asked Lastimoso to get blood samples from residents in the area for toxicity because of an existing coal-fired plant in the town. The plant is managed by Salcon Power Corp.
But Naga Mayor Ferdinand Chiong, who favors the plan, challenged Israel to have Vic Obando, also of Care, be tested first, since Obando is a Naga resident and former employee of Salcon Power.
Israel also asked for a copy of the mortality and morbidity rate in the area to prove that the plant poses health risks.
Concerns
Chiong assured Israel will have the report by Monday.
In his presentation, Lastimoso said environmental concerns are addressed. He said the power plant will have an oil spill control facility, ash pond management, air pollution control, dry ash disposal system and sea water pollution control.
Lastimoso admitted to PB Member Victor Maambong, environment committee chairman, that Kepco’s proposal for a coal-fired power plant in Panay was denied years ago. But this was not because of environmental or health concerns, he said.
He said the Panay proposal was untimely because it was election season, affecting efforts to get endorsement from leagues and councils. The endorsement is needed to get environment compliance certificate.
Yesterday, there was tension between supporters of the proposal and those who opposed it. Some of them gathered at the Capitol’s session hall.
Other supporters gathered in front of the legislative building with placards. (MBG)
(September 17, 2005 issue)
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