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WITH the
strong opposition posed by various stakeholders to the
proposed expansion of a coal-fired power plant in Iloilo
City, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza vowed to
carefully study all matters and issues related to the
proposal.
Atienza
said the primary criteria in evaluating the project
before an environmental clearance certificate is issued
would be conformity to the highest standards of sound
environmental performance, economic advantage to the
country and its acceptability to stakeholders.
“We are
weighing all options very carefully and scrutinizing any
and all related issues to the setting up of a coal
plant,” Atienza said.
“I
assure everyone that we are always on the side of
sustainable development and lower cost of power and
electricity for Iloilo,” he added.
Atienza
disclosed his stand on the coal-fired plant in Iloilo
during a visit in Iloilo City on August 22 where he
launched the Regional People’s Hour in Region 6.
During
the launching of the Regional People’s Hour, Atienza
handed out land patents to 78 beneficiaries under the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Handog
Titulo program, a major component of President Arroyo’s
anti-poverty campaign.
Atienza
admitted that some well-meaning organizations and
individuals have expressed their objections to the
setting up of the coal-fired plant, one of the
alternatives to augment Iloilo’s power supply.
“While
we are satisfying all the environmental questions, I
want to emphasize that as far as protecting the
environment is concerned, we are one with all the
advocates of environmental protection, even as we listen
to the arguments of those who are against this project,”
Atienza said.
He also
explained that the matter of granting or turning down
the environmental compliance certificate for the project
remains pending because of careful studies being
undertaken.
“I have
to make sure of the reliability of data being submitted
to us. I want to make sure that the process and
technology protects the environment. I want to make sure
that it is going to be good for the economy. I want to
be doubly sure it will be good and advantageous to
Iloilo residents,” Atienza said.
Responding to charges of anti coal-fired plants, Atienza
said that the plant to be set up in Iloilo is reportedly
similar to that of a plant operating in Taipei.
“So I
went to Taipei, along with independent experts to assess
the technology,” Atienza said.
“I would
like to tell you that what I saw was impressive. The
coal-fired power plant there is located inside an
industrial zone producing microchips. The production of
microchips is very sensitive. It requires pollution-free
surroundings. If the coal-fired power plant is
polluting, semiconductor and microchip production plants
there would close down. In other words, there is such a
thing as a pollution-free coal-fired power plant. If
that is the technology that will be used in Iloilo,
definitely, I am impressed. But if the technology does
not pass our judgment, we should not approve it,” he
said.
According to Atienza, the use of coal in power plants is
a technology that has given Europe and America a big
advantage in world economy. “You may not know it but
500 to 600 power plants in the United States are being
run by coal. As such, their cost of electricity is
cheap. Coal is available in the country. Let us see
how we can use it and benefit us,” he said.
Atienza
also scored foreigners undertaking local campaign to
oppose coal-fired power plants in the country.
“Foreigners tells us, ‘Don’t use that. It’s not good. It
is going to pollute your environment.’ If that is the
case, why won’t they work for the shutdown of coal-fired
power plants in their own countries,” Atienza said.
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