Business community welcomes proposal to set up coal-fired power plant
The plan to set up a coal-fired power plant in order to address the growing power needs elicited positive response from the city's business community.
Iloilo Multi-Sectoral Group President Fanny Uy said the proposal for the establishment of a coal-fired power plant is a welcome development among the business group as it will decrease the cost of electricity. There are constant meetings among the business organizations in the city over the proposal and not one businessman objected it, said Uy.
Even the church especially Archbishop Angel Lagdameo was consulted on the plan to establish a coal-fired power plant. Unfortunately, the church strongly oppose the project, said Uy.
Earlier, it was reported that coal-fired power plant is being proposed in Barangay Ingore, La Paz. Several punong barangays in La Paz and Jaro districts and a task force chaired by Engr. Noel Hechanova, chief of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, were already sent to Mambalacat, Pampanga to observe the operation of a coal-fired power plant thereat.
Uy said the coal-fired power plant will lower the cost of electricity in the city. She said, it will also help the economy as businessmen can hire more employees because of the savings they get from the power cost.
"The cost of power has a domino effect in the city's economy. Additional employment and more business investments will come in because of the low power rates. The high cost of power affects business operation," Uy added.
On the health aspect, Uy believes that the presence of a coal-fired power plant will not cause any harmful effects to the people and the environment. A coal-fired power plant is visible in Cebu and residents did not oppose it.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry Treñas said the task force has yet to make an official written report over their trip to Pampanga. Initially, the task force has not received any report over the health hazard caused by the coal-fired power plant in the site.
Hechanova said the task force will submit their official report next week.