Congressional inquiry on proposed coal power plant projects sought

Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron together with some partylist representatives recently passed a resolution for the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry on the proposed coal-fired power plants in Iloilo.

House Resolution No. 654 urges the house committees on energy and ecology to conduct an investigation on the proposed entry of coal-fired power plants in the Province of Iloilo . Coal–fired power plants are proposed by Mirant Global in Barotac Viejo and by DM Consunji in Concepcion . Both Barotac Viejo and Concepcion are located in northern Iloilo.

The resolution filed by Representatives, Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel (Akbayan), Ferjenel G. Biron, M.D. (4 th District-Iloilo), Renato Magtubo (Partido ng Manggagawa) and Mario Aguja (Akbayan) noted that Mirant Global's parent company has filed for bankruptcy (Chapter 11) in the United States but excluded its Philippine operations in the filing. The investigation would also look into claims that the proposed coal plants will cause electricity over-generation resulting to high electricity rates and tariffs.

In a statement the Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy (RISE), a local alliance promoting renewable energy sources, cited DoE data that Panay will have 45% excess dependable capacities for 2007-2009 even without the proposed coal plants.

Melvin Purzuelo of RISE said, “We should understand that we are in a financial crisis because we are wasting more than 4,900 megawatts of electricity. These coal plants will bury future generations deeper in aggravating crisis.”

In related developments, Barotac Viejo Mayor Raul Tupas signed last March 17 a memorandum of understanding with Mirant Global for the processing of the coal plant while, DM Consunji facilitated last March 14 a scoping activity in Concepcion as part of the environmental impact assessment process.

Local stakeholders led by the Concepcion Alliance for Renewable Energy (COALFREE) questioned the scoping process facilitated by their local government. Dr. Josefa Navarro of Coalfree said, "Gaia South did not follow the guidelines on the conduct of the EIA that there should be social preparations with project stakeholders before scoping activities."

The Catholic Church of Negros, Panay and Romblon through their bishops called for the rejection of the coal plants. More than fifty organizations of NGOs and professional groups like the Iloilo Medical Society (IMS) have signed petitions against the entry of coal plants in Iloilo .  Last March 3, more than 4,000 people attended the mass and rally at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds celebrating the one year anniversary of the rejection by the provincial board of a similar coal plant in Banate Iloilo. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo presided the concelebrated mass participated by 51 parish priests.