Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Groups cry foul over DENR ruling
PROVINCIAL Board (PB) Member Victor Maambong slammed the environment department’s failure to get local government units (LGUs) involved in issues concerning power plants.
Global Business Power Corp. (Global Power) presented its proposed expansion of Toledo City yesterday in a public forum initiated by the PB.
An expansion is needed in Cebu, especially since the Department of Energy (DOE) 7 confirmed there will be shortage of power before the year ends.
Non-government organizations and some PB members attended the forum. Although the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 was invited, it was not represented in the gathering.
In his introduction, Maambong reminded Global Power that there is a “bottoms up” scheme to be followed in seeking an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), particularly in Cebu where there is an ordinance about it.
This means that a power plant needs to get the approval of the concerned LGUs, particularly the barangays and towns affected by the activities of the power plant.
Barangays
“If the barangay says no, even Malacañang cannot say yes for them,” Maambong said.
Global Power said the provision on getting the approval of the barangays and the municipality has been waived by then DENR Sec. Angelo Reyes in a memorandum.
The company said they have resolutions from the barangays and Toledo City. Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo confirmed this.
‘Lakas gyud’
But this did not escape lawyer Benjamin Cabrido, who muttered, “Lakas gyud (Really well connected)” off the microphone.
Maambong directed Global Power to give the barangays concerned and the municipality a copy of the ECC. But he could not hide his annoyance at the memorandum of Sec. Reyes that waived the participation of LGUs in the issue. At one point, Maambong said the ECC was maneuvered in Manila.
“They forgot that there is such a thing as local autonomy,” said Maambong.
Lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), said power plant issues are not limited to the locality but the entire province.
Ramos recalled a forum where Global Power consultant Dr. Ed Alabastro said that clean coal technology is just a marketing strategy.
Connotation
Alabastro said it was only to appease connotation that coal is always dirty. Marketing, he said, meant persuasion but not in terms of sales.
Cabrido intends to file a case against Global Power. Maambong said the PB is likely to support the opposition along certain issues.
Ariel Arman Lapus, Global Power executive vice president, said the company can provide the “needed additional, reliable, cost-competitive power in Cebu that can also comply with the stringent environmental standards.”
“Today, we are already in deficit because we do not have enough reserves,” said Lapus.
He said Cebu is 60 percent dependent on Leyte in terms of power supply. The rest is supplied by Negros and Panay.
There are no potential geothermal and renewable power sources in Cebu. The options for Cebu are diesel, which is expensive, and coal, which is the most practical option for Cebu.
Improved
Lapus introduced a new technology that can comply with environmental standards, which is the improved fluidized bed combustion, which lowers temperature.
Vince Cinches, executive director of the Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. (Fidec), said that the new technology cannot control carbon dioxide emission, wastewater
and other discharges to the sea, noise and vibration pollution and coal pile runoff and spillages.
Community
Lapus said the community should also do its part by staying vigilant.
As for mercury emission, Global Power said that for mercury to be lethal, a person has to be exposed to it for 24 hours in 5,556 years.
But DOE 7 representative Rey Maliza said the additional power expected from the expansion is needed in Cebu, specifically in the western area.
Power supply is also crucial by the end of the year.
“While there is the same level of demand and supply, the new Energy Regulatory Commission requirement entails power reserve,” said Maliza.
Zambo felt Toledo City was singled out in the forum, particularly its support for Global Power.
“After Atlas Mining Corp., Toledo was down and out. It was hard to see Toledanons go out of the country for better opportunities. I am also concerned about the environment but we have to balance it because the LGU also has the responsibility to get income for the people. We look at the greater picture,” said Zambo.
Maambong said that picking on Toledo City was not the aim of the public forum, but to look at the law and the social impact of the expansion.
Global Power is willing to open its doors to Maambong and cause-oriented groups for a site visit. (JGA)
