Iloilo anti-coal groups lambast Concepcion public hearing
Lack of transparency and undemocratic process describe the coming August 4 Public Hearing on the proposed 100 MW coal-fired power plant in Concepcion, Iloilo according to the Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy (RISE).
Melvin Purzuelo of Green Forum - Western Visayas and RISE said that the direct stakeholders are discouraged from participating meaningfully by the instruction of DENR Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Central Office that those interested in attending and participating in the public hearing should register in person or by mail with their Office in Quezon City before July 30.
"How can we expect the marginal fisherfolks in the island barangays of Concepcion who will be gravely affected by the pollution and ecological destruction in the Apitong Pass to register in person or mail to Quezon City," said Purzuelo. "The outcome of the public hearing will tremendously affect their lives, why should it be very difficult for them to participate in the process?" he ask.
RISE also lamented the very late release of documents related to the EIS that are essential for the stakeholders to have sufficient information in making objective decisions. Purzuelo said that they have been asking the EMB since January 2005 for the scoping reports and the composition and field of expertise of the EIA Review Committee.
RISE was able to access the said documents together with the EIS Report from the EMB Central Office only last July 21 leaving them very limited time to exhaustively discuss the information with the affected communities.
The inclusion of Dr. Felixberto Roquia as one of the Review Committee Members was hit by RISE considering that he was one of the consultants of Geosphere, then the EIA preparer for the rejected Banate coal-fired power plant.
In October 10, 2003 RISE wrote a letter of protest to EMB Regional Director Samson Guillergan questioning the field investigations and interviews conducted by Geosphere even when the site scoping activity has not yet been conducted.
RISE allege that it violated the existing EIA Guideline that agreements between the EIA proponent, DENR and stakeholders should be generated before the actual conduct of the EIA activities.
On November 5, 2003, RISE and the Banatenhon Against Coal-Fired Power Plant requested Mr. Reynaldo Alcances, Chief of the EIA Division, EMB, to conduct an investigation of Geosphere for conducting site testing activities and perception surveys before the scoping activities and for acting as the marketing agents of the coal-fired plant project. Dr. Roquia has been observed to be the primary Geosphere consultant responsible for these foul activities.
"It is highly insensitive for the EMB Central Office to include Dr. Roquia in the Review Committee of the proposed Concepcion coal-fired power plant project. We demand that Dr. Roquia should be immediately removed from the said Committee," Purzuelo said.