Planned coal plant in Subic opposed

A group of businessmen in the Subic Bay Freeport has opposed the construction of a 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant on the freeport’s Redondo Peninsula, saying the cheaper electricity was not worth the environmental trade offs.

In a position paper submitted to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on Friday, the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) said the plant’s operation would cause irreversible damage to an area it described as having “extremely high biodiversity values and high species endemism.”

This, the group said, would lead to the reduced commercial potential of the Freeport.

The Subic Bay Resorts Association in Subic, Zambales, also joined the protest to protect the town’s beach, the area’s prime attraction.

John Corcoran, SBFCC president, told SBMA officials in the petition’s cover letter that the coal plant would be the “final step in the degradation of Subic Bay, reducing the potential to attract tourists.”

“It will pollute the air, the land and the water, removing the key ingredients in Subic Bay’s prime assets–clean air, clean water and the proximity to nature,” Corcoran said.

SBMA Chair Feliciano Salonga said the P100-million project was a joint venture of the SBMA and the Taiwanese-led Co-Generation. It would initially provide power to the Korean shipbuilder Hanjin and eventually to the entire freeport, he said.

“It would make business more competitive. The high cost of power is one of the problems of industrial locators,” said Salonga in a telephone interview.

Subic Enerzone, the current electricity provider, charges P5 per kilowatt-hour, he said.

Salonga, however, calmed fears of environmental degradation, saying the project would “comply with all rules.”

Corcoran said the “only official beneficiaries would be Hanjin and a handful of Taiwanese investors in the Subic Industrial Park.”

As the proponent assured in its memorandum of understanding that “all emissions will meet the regulations,” the SBFCC reminded SBMA that a pollution study in 1997 showed that Subic Bay, a protected area, has fresh and clean water.

The chamber also expressed skepticism on the capability of local authorities to regulate the project.

The SBFCC recommended the use of gas-fired combined cycle technology that it said was more efficient.

Opposition to coal power plants has been tested in Pangasinan where villagers succeeded in blocking a plan to build a coal plant in one of the village there.

The monitoring of environmental pollution in Subic has been tight following an oil slick that smudged coastlines of Olongapo City recently.

In a recent slick, plastic bags containing oil debris apparently from the Petron oil spill in Guimaras were found floating in the city’s coastline.

The garbage bags, containing what may be used bunker oil, appeared to have been deliberately dumped and were ruptured by waves, according to Olongapo officials.

006 Res No 15 - esmo project proposal - banca boats

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON FEBRUARY 01, 2006, AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Rolen C. Paulino- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer
Hon. Noel Y. Atienza- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor
Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Bella P. Asuncion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Marey Beth D. Marzan- - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Angelina B. Andrada - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Gina G. Perez - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Napoleon F. Capistrano- - - - - - - - - - - President, Liga ng mga Barangay
Hon. Robine Rose C. Buenafe - - - - - - - - - - SK Federation President

ABSENT:

Hon. Brian Patrick H. Gordon - - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor
Hon. Edwin J. Piano- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “ (Sick Leave)


RESOLUTION NO. 15
(Series of 2006)

A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROJECT PROPOSAL OUTLINE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND MANAGEMENT OFFICE (ESMO)

WHEREAS, the City of Olongapo, dubbed as one of the cleanest and greenest highly urbanized cities in the country, is a model for other Local Government Units;

WHEREAS, as the first city to implement the Integrated Garbage Collection System, the City introduced some innovations in the garbage collection system;

WHEREAS, in 1994 after the successful launching of the Solid Waste Management Program in Olongapo, the City became the recipient of the “Galing Pook Award” which also paved way to the receipt of several regional, national as well as international awards;

WHEREAS, the Environmental Sanitation and Management Office (ESMO), has prepared a Proposal Outline to the Presidential Management Staff Office of Special Projects for the acquisition of two (2) bancas to be used in the clean-up operations and monitoring of rivers and surrounding waters in order to protect the environment from pollutions;

WHEREAS, the acquisition of the bancas will indeed enhance better the delivery of services to the constituents of Olongapo as well as to its neighboring towns;

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of Councilor Cynthia G. Cajudo, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present;


Con’t. of Resolution No. 15, Series of 2006.

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RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled to approve, as it hereby approves the Project Proposal Outline Of The Environmental Sanitation And Management Office (ESMO);

RESOLVED FURTHER, AS IT IS HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED, that the 1st Indorsement letter of Mr. Dante P. Ramos, City Governmetn Department Head II, ESMO be attached to this Resolution.

Let a copy of this Resolution be furnished the Environmental Sanitation And Management Office (ESMO) for their information and record.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, February 1, 2006.


ROLEN C. PAULINO
City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer


NOEL Y. ATIENZA CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO
City Councilor City Councilor


BELLA P. ASUNCION MAREY BETH D. MARZAN
City Councilor City Councilor


ANGELINA B. ANDRADA BRIAN PATRICK H. GORDON
City Councilor City Councilor
(Absent)
ANSELMO A. AQUINO EDWIN J. PIANO
City Councilor City Councilor
(Sick Leave)


GINA G. PEREZ NAPOLEON F. CAPISTRANO
City Councilor President, Liga ng mga Barangay


ROBINE ROSE C. BUENAFE
SK Federation President
ATTEST:

ELFLIDA S. SALMON
Council Secretary

APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON______________________.


JAMES GORDON, JR.
City Mayor
ATTEST:

DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.
Secretary to the City Mayor

2006 Res No 32 - rebuilding of olongapo lighthouse

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON MARCH 01, 2006, AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Rolen C. Paulino- - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer
Hon. Noel Y. Atienza- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -City Councilor
Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Bella P. Asuncion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Marey Beth D. Marzan- - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Angelina B. Andrada - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Brian Patrick H. Gordon - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Edwin J. Piano- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Gina G. Perez - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Robine Rose C. Buenafe - - - - - - - - - - SK Federation President
Hon. Napoleon F. Capistrano- - - - - - - - - - - President, Liga ng mga Barangay

ABSENT:

None
RESOLUTION NO. 32
(Series of 2006)

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE SUBIC BAY METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY (SBMA) TO REBUILD THE OLONGAPO CITY LIGHTHOUSE (PAROLA) AT BARANGAY KALAKLAN


WHEREAS, the Olongapo Lighthouse (Parola) at Barangay Kalaklan had long stood as a historical landmark and as a silent witness of the City’s developments;

WHEREAS, during the U.S. Naval Base times, the said lighthouse provided light for ships, aircraft carriers and other sea vessels for them to stay their courses and as such mitigated them from the perils of the sea;

WHEREAS, the City endeavors that this permanent structure be rebuilt to restore its historicity and be part of the tourism “come-ons” of both the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as host to the former U.S. Naval Base and the City as well;

WHEREAS, in the spate that the SBMA also pursues earnest developments as home to a bustling seaport, a rebuilt lighthouse at Kalaklan will serve as the best reference point since it existed and is recognized in international navigational maps and nautical charts long before;

WHEREAS, with the steadfast partnership between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the City had shared in various undertakings, the leadership of Olongapo deems it best to request the SBMA to rebuild the said lighthouse for further eco-tourism endeavors ;

NOW, THEREFORE, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present;
Con’t. of Resolution No. 32, Series of 2006.

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RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled, to request, as it hereby requests the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to rebuild the Olongapo City Lighthouse (Parola) at Barangay Kalaklan.

Let copies of this Resolution be furnished Hon. Feliciano Salonga, Chairman and Hon. Armand C. Arreza, Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, for their information and appropriate action.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, March 01, 2006.


ROLEN C. PAULINO
City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer


NOEL Y. ATIENZA CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO
City Councilor City Councilor


BELLA P. ASUNCION MAREY BETH D. MARZAN
City Councilor City Councilor


ANGELINA B. ANDRADA BRIAN PATRICK H. GORDON
City Councilor City Councilor

ANSELMO A. AQUINO EDWIN J. PIANO
City Councilor City Councilor


GINA G. PEREZ NAPOLEON F. CAPISTRANO
City Councilor President, Liga ng mga Barangay


ROBINE ROSE C. BUENAFE
SK Federation President
ATTEST:

JOCELYN P. NIÑONUEVO
Temporary Council Secretary

APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON______________________.


JAMES GORDON, JR.
City Mayor
ATTEST:

DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.
Secretary to the City Mayor

Tree Planting with the scouts and OCNHS students

Lets teach our young to care for the environment, to plant and to nurture