Recall of 2 Subic coal plants’ compliance certificates sought

By Reynaldo G. Navales - SunStar

SUBIC — The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a fisherfolk alliance, has urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to recall the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) given by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to a Taiwanese firm.

The foreign firm is set to two 150-megawatt coal fired thermal plants inside the former US Naval Base in Zambales province.

Leaders of Pamalakaya, who attended Monday’s congressional hearing on the proposed P16.9-billion budget of the DENR next year, submitted an official letter addressed to DENR Secretary Ramon Paje.They are asking the DENR official to revoke the ECC granted by SBMA to Taiwan Cogeneration International Corporation, who entered into a joint venture agreement with Aboitiz Energy in Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc., the project proponent.

“Secretary Paje should rise above the occasion and tell the coal plant builders from Taiwan and the Aboitiz group to withdraw the project and stop pursuing an undertaking that will destroy practically everything,” said Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap and vice chairperson Salvador France in a joint statement.

Both Pamalakaya officials also questioned the basis of SBMA in granting the ECC for two coal plant projects, asserting that the rich studies here and abroad on the disastrous impact of coal-fired thermal plants are enough to score a giant kill against the projects.

“SBMA does exist not for people and the environment, but for super profits, super profits and super profits for their transnational and domestic clients even if these would mean sacrificing the people and the people’s biodiversity. Environmental protection and social justice are not SMBA’s cup of tea,” Hicap and France claimed.

To allay public fears, SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said the ECC is still subject to review and validation of the DENR. He refuted the claims of former Zambales Vice-Governor Ramon Lacbain II that there were no public hearings held.

Arreza said public consultations were held inside the free port zone among the foreign investors and residents.

The SBMA official added the project, which is located is in Sitio Naglatore in Barangay Cawag in Subic town, undergone public hearings in Subic town and Olongapo City.

But Oscar Cabayanan, Central Luzon director of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau, said last week that he does not have any information yet if the Environmental Management Bureau central office has issued an ECC to the project.

Pamalakaya said the strong opposition against the project led by Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr. and the City Council against the RPEI project to build and operate the coal-fired power plants should be supported.

A resolution, approved by the council on August 27 and approved by Gordon on August 28, cited environmental safety and public health as bases for turning down the project.

In the same resolution, Mayor Gordon and the council instead urged the RPEI instead to consider safer alternative sources of energy for Subic Bay.

Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on August 10, 2011.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2011/08/09/recall-2-subic-coal-plants-compliance-certificates-sought-171951