Monday, July 28, 2008 Coal-fired power plant issue heats up in Maasim
MAASIM, Sarangani -- The local government unit expressed support for plans to build a $450 million coal-fired power plant as mounting opposition continued that saw supporters and critics jostling for favorable public backing.
Maasim officials held a public forum and appealed to constituents to back the Alcantara-led coal-fuel power plant project.
The local Catholic Church-led opposition, on the other hand, initiated an information and education campaign on the possible ill effects of the project to the environment and the human health.
Mayor Aniceto P. Lopez Jr. said the locality is now ready to accept big-ticket investments such as coal-fired power plant to further spur the economic development of this coastal town.
"I appeal to our people to support the coal-fired power plant project. This is will be the 'answer' to the problem of our town, which is dependent on IRA [Internal Revenue Allotment]. The project will also generate employment," he later told reporters at the sidelines of the forum.
The annual internal revenue allotment of the town amounts to P68 million while its local tax collection income fetches P3 million yearly, the mayor said.
Lopez said the local government expects the power plant to attract other industrial investments, adding that the town's land-use plan is already well in place.
The Municipal Council is in the process of passing a resolution endorsing the coal-fired power plant, he said, adding that the country has laws that address environmental abuses and that the project will only be allowed to operate if the proponents will be given the necessary clearances.
Lopez said there are "modern technologies now that can address pollution issues in as far as coal-fired plant operations are concerned."
When asked for specific details on the benefits (outside the usual requirements of the law) that the local government unit could get from the coal-fired power plant of Conal Holdings Corp., Lopez declined to comment "pending further negotiation's" with the company.
The local government unit's support to the coal-fired power plant, however, was played down by critics.
"Let them be. It's still a long battle to go," said Fr. Romeo Q. Catedral, social action director of the Diocese of Marbel, hinting a continuous campaign against the coal-fired power plant employing parishioners from the Basic Christian Communities (BCCs).
Keith Kristoffer P. Bacongco, campaign paralegal for environment group Legal Rights & Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan, urged the local government to hold a referendum to see if the people really want the coal-fired power plant project in the town.
Bacongco, who spoke before the leaders of the BCCs, belied the "clean coal technology" mouthed by the project proponent.
"Coal itself is dirty. Even the most advanced countries, like the United States, have yet to perfect that clean coal technology. Clean coal technology is just an advertising slogan," Bacongco said.
Joseph C. Nocos, Conal Holdings vice president, earlier gave assurances that the project will comply with national and international environment guidelines.
"We can't let our massive investments go down the drain by being irresponsible in our operations," the company official said.
In anticipation of a power supply shortage in Mindanao in the next few years, Conal Holdings announced last month that it will build the Kamanga Power Plant project, which will initially generate 200 megawatts of electricity by 2011 with two incremental expansions of 350 MW over a period of 15 years.
Construction of the first phase will take three years and would employ at least 1,000 laborers and 300 regular workers during the operation stage, the company said in a statement.
