Priests 'faithless' on DoE forecast

By Leny G. Gabo

Thou art not believable.

Several clergymen expressed doubt over the forecast of the Department of Energy that Panay faces an impending power shortage, and thus needs an additional energy source.

Msgrs. Meliton Oso and Ramon Pet, and Fr. Excel Jaen expressed their skepticism during a dialogue with representatives of the DoE, National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), Mirant Global Philippines Group, and various environmentalist groups Monday afternoon at the Archbishop's Palace in Jaro.

Oso, who heads the Jaro Social Action Office, said that the DoE presented ‘irrelevant data' to support the latter's forecast that Panay needs an additional power supply to stave off an impending energy shortage within the next few years.

‘Irrelevant data' is what the DoE presented, lawyer Romeo Gerochi of the Freedom from Debt Coalition observed.

The Energy department has been warning that continued opposition to the plan of Mirant Global Phils. to put up a coal-fired power plant in the northern town of Barotac . Viejo jeopardizes the island's power supply for the next few years.

During Monday's dialogue, the DoE forecasted that Panay will need about 430 MW of power by 2015, an increase of more than 100% from the present requirement of 216 MW.

And since the power barges supplying energy to the island will be retiring, there is a need for a power plant, the DoE reasoned.

Despite the explanations of Erma Exconde of the DoE, Oso said that he is still not ‘enlightened' that Panay really needs additional power because of an energy shortage.

“There are questions in their forecasting that still persists, and the problem regarding (the impact on) environment still not resolved,” Oso pointed out, adding that since the dialogue failed to clarify several matters, the people should scratch deeper to know the truth behind the controversy.

At the same time, he reiterated the stand of the church for renewable and clean energy source.

“The DoE should consider Iloilo as model for renewable energy,” Oso stressed.

For his part, Jaen reminded, “in case of doubt, refrain or delay,” as he demanded assurance that the health of the people will not be adversely affected with the operation of a coal-fired power plant in their town.

“It is but just proper to dream of an industrialized Panay with healthy people. There should be a standard set for all,” stressed Jaen , who is the parish priest of Btac. Viejo.

Pet, on the other hand, went a bit too far from merely expressing doubts over the predicted power shortage.

Pet, who is parish priest of Barotac Nuevo, called Erma Exconde of the DoE ‘dim-wit' for not failing to understand even their own data in coming up with the forecast.

THE FLOCK BACKS THE SHEPHERD

In a related development, Jaen said that their Parish Pastoral Council headed by Engr. Nono ‘Bay' Barreto passed a resolution supporting clean sources of energy.

The resolution did not specify any energy source, not even coal.

“If there were people who have approved for the proposal, it might be that they are politically convinced,” the resolution states.