|
Monday, November 08, 2004
District lawmaker bars coal power plants
CEBU CITY -- Rep. Eduardo Gullas will oppose the construction of two coal-fired power plants in Naga, Cebu, at least until the district taxpayers' worries are addressed.
The first district congressman plans to tell Energy Secretary Vincent Perez about his objections to the two 100-megawatt plants being proposed by a joint venture of Salcon Power Corp. and the Korean Electric Power Co. Philippines.
Gullas, in a press statement, said he also plans to meet with Naga Mayor Ferdinand Chiong and other municipal officials to explain, "why we should not rush into endorsing the plants."
At a hearing in Naga last Saturday, town residents and officials asked project proponents for assurance that the projects will create jobs for locals.
Environmentalists, for their part, asked for safeguards against toxic and hazardous emissions commonly associated with coal-fired plants.
"The project has ecological, economic and social dimensions that have to be carefully considered before a decision is made whether or not to allow it," said Gullas.
"The power crisis is already here and the proposed power plants are not the solution," he added, referring to a Salcon official's report that the two plants will avert a power crisis in Cebu by 2008.
But for a project to get the green light from the government, it must get the approval of the community where it will be put up.
That is provided for in the social acceptability clause under the Environmental Impact System (EIS) Law.
A public hearing is required, not just an endorsement from a congressman or the barangay council.
Under the EIS law, projects that affect the environment are required an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
The ECC contains conditions that the project proponent or developer must follow to prevent or mitigate adverse effects on the environment.
Under DENR Administrative Order 96-37, environmentally critical infrastructure projects include major dams, power plants, reclamation projects, roads and bridges and golf courses.
Energy Secretary Perez earlier said it is "impossible" to completely do away with coal power plants, especially in Cebu.
The province, he pointed out, has no choice but to rely on coal power plants because it does not have other sources of electricity like geothermal or hydroelectric plants.
Cebu's current power consumption is close to 400 megawatts (mw), a demand being met by existing power plants in the province as well as geothermal fields in Leyte.
However, the demand is expected to rise to 600 mw daily.
Cebu is set to get additional power from the Cebu-Leyte interconnection project next year.
(November 8, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Arroyo asks Muslim leaders' help on hostages