|
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Ong: Manipulated power crisis
By Ted Aldwin E. Ong
First Part
THE Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy (Rise) submitted a request for investigation in both the House and Senate, questioning the processes being undertaken for the proposed coal-fired power plants in Iloilo.
The call for investigation is hinged on the following grounds: First, the proponents, DM Consunji Inc. and Mirant Global, exercise excessive influence over the local governments' chief executives who are convincing affected communities to accept the projects;
Second, coal-fired power plants are detrimental to the health and environment of host communities and the resource base of northern Iloilo and the Visayan Sea;
Third, the entry of coal power plants in Panay Island will aggravate electricity over-generation that will hamper regional economic development with very high electricity rates and tariffs; and,
Fourth, the Department of Energy manipulated data to flagrantly thrust the coal-fired power plants proposed by DM Consunji Inc. and Mirant Global in Iloilo.
I will tackle the vital points raised by Rise on the issue of the proposed coal-fired power plants. This issue is relative to other pressing concerns of the country today. It has a lasting impact on us--as electricity consumers, environmentalists, and taxpayers who bear the consequences of faulty government decisions.
The first reason is by far the most common--proponents' exercising excessive influence over the local governments' chief executives who are convincing affected communities to accept the projects.
Both local and foreign companies doing business in the country have to exert excessive influence to secure the commitment of local officials for them to enter into contracts. Dirty politics always play a big role in multi-billion projects especially in power generation.
The stakes are high in the power generation business. Local government units cannot simply ignore the prospects for investments, employment, revenues, infrastructure projects and educational and medical assistance. These promises, though a mere icing on the cake, are the factors that arouse hope in sleepy communities.
Yet based on personal testimonies by people in host communities with existing coal-fired power plants in Luzon, these are only paper promises. The establishment of a coal-fired power plant in their area did not yield much-needed employment and revenues to substitute for their livelihood. Many ended up unemployed after the construction phase because modern power plants require minimal technical people.
How can a simple fisherman operate the electronic and computerized devices of coal plants? To pin their unemployment dilemma on temporary employment opportunities promised by proponents of coal plants is a risk not worth taking for the local chief executives of Concepcion and Barotac Viejo. Instead, it's more sustainable for them to focus in strengthening present livelihood activities and broaden its opportunities for better revenues.
Livelihood opportunities are already in place in these municipalities with agriculture and fishing. Resources from these industries are essential for the people's survival--food and livelihood. Coal does not serve the same dual purpose and can even impair their traditional livelihood and the environment.
Everybody is pointing to politics as the single reason why the local chief executives of Concepcion and Barotac Viejo are eager to host these projects. In an interview with a local radio program, Barotac Viejo Mayor Raul Tupas said, "that only one 100-MW coal-fired power plant will be pursued in the province."
The excessive politics that characterizes the proposed projects will tell you who will be the likely host between the two officials.
Concepcion Mayor Raul Banias does not have a governor for a father and a board member for a brother.
Though there is a deeper and more complicated political cord that connects all these, it's a family thing from the surface. Strange things happen in between election periods, but if this is indeed a "family business," then something is amiss with Mayor Raul Banias. One thing is clear though; this is a glimpse of the election game that is to come.
For comments/reactions, send email to peoplesdomain@yahoo.com or SMS to (0920)4284719
(February 24, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
