Gwen, party tour Kepco in South Korea

Cebu officials yesterday  toured the coal-fired power plant of  Korean Power Corp. (Kepco)  in Dangjin, South Korea, as part of the governor’s three-day business trip.

Environmentalists are not happy.

The governor and Naga City officials’ visit is   a clear indication of their intention to build more coal-fired power plants in Cebu, said lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos of the    Philippine Earth Justice Center.

“We will avail of all the legal remedies to make sure that it does not happen,” Ramos told Cebu Daily News.

The Kepco plant in Naga City has been the subject of  controversy because of coal dust pollution and its disposal of waste.

The governor was  being “inconsiderate” to the  Cebuanos, Ramos said.

The officials should have listened to  constituents’   concerns with regard to the operation of  coal-fired power plants in the province including one in barangay Colon, Naga City,  before visiting the Kepco plant in South Korea, she said.

The governor’s party includes Provincial Board Members Peter John Calderon, Alex Binghay, Jude Sybico and Joven Mondigo.

Naga City officials led by  Mayor Valdemar Chiong also joined the trip.

“The officials insist on business as usual but they did not even implement the environmental laws to protect the health of the people,” Ramos said.

She pointed out that the visit poses a conflict of interest since  the local government unit  is supposed to enforce environmental laws even for the power plant.

Ramos is a petitioner in the  pending Environmental Protection Order against coal-fired powers plants in the sala of  Judge Marilyn Ligura Yap of Mandaue City Regional Trial Court Branch 28.

Garcia in an interview last week said the Kepco tour in Dangjin  will enable Naga City officials to see “just how environmentally sound and how efficient are these coal-fired power plants being operated by Kepco.”

The Dangjin plant of four 600-MW coal-fired units is fitted with   coal-dust suppression and other pollution control equipment.

The governor’s delegation will  meet with Kepco management in Dangjin today.

In  a March 16 order, the judge   prohibited  Kepco from dumping coal ash waste in a dumping facility in barangay Tinaan, Naga City, which was developed by the Capitol.

The Capitol earlier declared the  two ash ponds  ready to accept coal ash from Kepco last March.

Garcia is in Korea for the  signing  a memorandum of understanding for sisterhood ties with Busan, “the second biggest city in the entire Republic of South Korea.”

The signing  “is a very positive development in strengthening our ties with South Korea and further boosting Cebu’s image to the international community,” she said.

The delegation will also pay a courtesy call to former South Korean president Kim Young Sam.

Garcia in a memorandum designated Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale acting governor.  Carmel Loise Matus and Candeze R. Mongaya