Coal plant foes: Aquino misinformed

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines —Opponents of a proposed coal-fired power plant in this free port said President Benigno Aquino III was misinformed on issues surrounding the project after he endorsed it in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

The President, in his speech at the joint session of Congress, said the country’s energy problems “make up a long list,” and cited the proposed 600-megawatt project being developed by Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy) as a viable solution being blocked by critics.

Mr. Aquino said: “As our economy grows, so will our consumption of electricity, which means we must likewise increase supply. Do we really want to wait until our plants are at full capacity before more plants are built? Power plants do not sprout like mushrooms—a power plant takes two to three years to construct.”

“If anyone has a good suggestion, we are ready to listen. But I also hope that the kibitzers put the situation in the proper context,” he said.

The Subic Bay Freeport-Chamber for Health and Environment Conservation (SBF-CHEC), one of the critics alluded to in the Sona, said it was “saddened and furious” that the Sona was filled with misinformation “rammed down his (Mr. Aquino’s) throat by his advisers,” said Jen Velarmino, the group’s spokesperson.

The coal-fired power plant project was earlier endorsed by former Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, now secretary to the Cabinet and one of Mr. Aquino’s closest advisers.

The project is being developed by RP Energy, which is composed of Manila Electric Co., Aboitiz Group of Companies and Taiwan Cogen.

The project was frozen by a temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals in May, which invalidated the environmental compliance certificate for the project and its lease development contract.

“Can you describe all the seven representative stakeholder groups and civil society, who filed a case in the Supreme Court and who won twice in the Court of Appeals, as miron?” Velarmino said.

In his speech, Mr. Aquino said the restraining order was granted “because of the argument that renewable energy is better.”

“If you put up a wind-powered plant, what do you do when there is no wind? If you put up a solar plant, what do you do when the sky is cloudy?” the President said.

Velarmino said Mr. Aquino appeared unaware that majority of affected residents and stakeholders opposed the coal plant project because of “valid health and environment concerns.”

“Does [Mr. Aquino] know that there are two resolutions each in the Zambales provincial board and the Olongapo City council that objected to the project?” she said.

“Since he is the President, he might want to make it easier for renewable energy firms to invest by giving them incentives and tax amnesties,” she added. Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon