Saturday, November 08, 2008 Dev't council slates briefing on coal-fired power plant
A MEETING between Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and the five governors of Western Visayas ended amicably Thursday with main proponent Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) slated to present its coal-fired power plant project.
The presentation is aimed to inform members of the regional development council (RDC) on the progress of the coal-fired power plant project during the next monthly meeting slated in Roxas City, Capiz on December 5.
It must be recalled that Western Visayas governors Salvacion Perez of Antique, Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental, Felipe Hilan Nava of Guimaras, Victor Tanco of Capiz and Carlito Marquez of Aklan jointly made a position paper calling for the revocation of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to the project last September 1.
Environment Secretary Lito Atienza earlier said the coal plant project in Iloilo City is already a "done deal" and the ECC can only be revoked if the proponent conducted blatant violation on the conditions of the ECC.
Atienza reiterated that the ECC is a clearance only given upon reaching a thorough study and evaluation. Its revocation will only send a bad signal to prospective investors and foreign business locators who are willing to invest in the countryside and help prop up the local economy.
The governors claimed that the project is detrimental to health and the environment because many of their constituents are in Iloilo City.
The 164 megawatt coal-fired power plant that uses clean-coal technology and costs some P18 billion is now being constructed at Barangay Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City by GBPC. It is envisioned to help augment the dwindling power supply in the city.
Mayor Treñas told the opposing governors that Iloilo City has no alternative source of power but largely depends on the power generated by Panay Power Corp., a sister corporation of GBPC, and the National Power Corp. of the government, which also supplies power in the whole island of Panay.
Treñas said that he is willing to discuss the project with the RDC membership if given the chance earlier. The coal plant is purely a private financed business that does not need a government guarantee.
The meeting called for by Capiz Governor Victor Tanco was held at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol and was hosted by Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas, the only governor of the region who did not sign the recall ECC petition. (LCP)
