Not everyone is happy about the presence of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in today’s inauguration of the 200-megawatt coal plant in barangay Colon, Naga City.
Ecology groups who have been fighting an uphill legal battle to stop the operation of the coal plant operated by Korean Electric Power Corp.-Salcon Power Corp. (Kepco-SPC), said the President was in the dark about the plant’s legal entanglements.
“I’m not sure if the President is aware of the controversial Balili deal, the pending case in our green court involving Kepco and the province and the Temporary Environmental Protection Order (Tepo) granted during the pendency of the case,” ecology lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said.
The case is pending in the environment court of Judge Marilyn Ligura-Yap on Branch 28 of the Regional Trial Court in Mandaue City.
Yap will meet with the petitioners and defendants today, the same day the Kepco-SPC plant will be inaugurated.
Ramos referred to the case filed by some Naga residents and their groups against an agreement signed between the province and the Capitol to dispose the coal ash produced by the plant in a landfill at the Balili property in barangay Tina-an, Naga City.
The Balili property itself is the subject of a claims case between the Capitol and the heirs of the Balili estate.
The province sought more than P30 million in refund following a government survey that declared most of the 27 hectare property under water.
Ramos of the Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) said Aquino’s attendance in the inauguration proved that the President “still has to connect the dots” on the detrimental effects of coal pollution in the environment.
“He has not realized or perhaps pretends ignorance on the undeniable fact that coal is the dirtiest source of green house gas responsible for climate change,” Ramos said in a text message.
Aquino also led the switch on ceremony of another coal-fired power plant in Iloilo last March.
Ecology groups claimed that the coal dust from the plant caused respiratory diseases to develop in nearby residents in barangay Colon, Naga.
Aaron Pedrosa of the Freedom From Debt Coalition (FDC) emphasized that Aquino is engaging on “double talk” by attending the inauguration.
“It’s an insult to the Cebuanos. He purports to promote renewable (energy source) yet he leads in inaugurating coal plants,” Pedrosa said.
Instead of showing encouragement on coal fired power plants, Aquino should instead strengthen the Climate Change Commission and eliminate causes of climate change such as coal, Vince Cinches country coordinator of the 350.org said.
“He owes to the Cebuano electorate his position. He should give back by declaring Cebu as the center of green economy and sustainability,” Cinches said.
But Rodien Paca, a resident of Naga City and one of the organizers of Naganian Awareness Against Pollution (NAAPA), said he was pleased with the President’s scheduled visit since it would be a chance for Mr. Aquino to see the situation in Kepco for himself.
“It is normal that investors will invite the President in the business sense, but we hope it will not be used to give them power to violate communities by pollution violation,” he said.
Work on the multi-billion peso plant began in Feb. 2008 while the commercial operation of the first 100-MW unit started on February 28, 2011.
The second 100-MW unit commenced on May 31, 2011.
Kepco-SPC President and CEO Bok-Yull Lee said the coal plant could provide Cebu and other areas in the Visayas with reliable, stable, affordable and cleaner power at least until the development of renewable energy sources on a wide scale.
Lee said the coal plant has pollution control devices and a broad-based team to monitor the environmental safety of the plant in order to protect the health of the local community.
The plant employs a water treatment system that converts seawater for its own use.
The converted seawater is used in the boiler to meet the plant’s fresh water requirements and can be also be used for the plant’s own consumption.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the project is one of the biggest investments in the province.
She reiterated that while development of renewable energy sources in the province is ideal, coal plants provide cheaper, reliable power.
Last March, the Department of Energy in Central Visayas (DOE-7) said power supply may reach critical levels in the region after 2015.
DOE-7 Director Antonio Labios said new plants should be installed to meet the power requirements of Cebu and the region. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya with Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus