Anti-coal groups haul Treñas to Ombudsman
Environmental groups and anti-coal plant advocates yesterday filed criminal and administrative charges against Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas for going on a trip to Taiwan sponsored by a company proposing the construction of a coal-fired plant in the city.
In a six-page complaint-affidavit filed before the regional office of the Office of the Ombudsman, groups belonging to the Responsible Ilonggos for Renewal Energy (Rise) accused Treñas of violating Section 7 of Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
Lawyer Romeo Gerochi, president of the Freedom from Debt Coalition in Iloilo, who filed the complaint in behalf of Rise, said Treñas' trip to Taiwan on September 28-30 violated prohibited acts of public officials.
Section 7 of R.A. 61713 provides that: "Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.
The trip including accommodations was sponsored by Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) and the Panay Power Corp. (PPC). PPC, a subsidiary of GBPC, which distributes the bulk of power in Iloilo City.
The two companies are proposing to build a 100-megawatt coal plant at the PPC plant site in Barangay Ingore in La Paz District here. It plans to tap technical assistance from the Taiwan-based Formosa Heavy Industries Corp. (FHIC), which operates the Asia Power Energy Corporation (APEC) coal plant in Mabalacat town in Pampanga.
Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog and eight city councilors are also planning to go on a similar all-expense paid trip to Taiwan on Oct. 12.
The cheapest round trip plane fare from Iloilo to Manila and to Taiwan costs around P20,000, according to Gerochi.
Treñas defended his trip.
"I have done nothing wrong and committed no violations," he told reporters.
He said he got authority from the Department of Interior and Local Government for his trip.
The mayor also pointed out that the GPC, PPC and FHIC are not contractors or suppliers for any projects of the city government.
Treñas also said his trip cannot be covered by prohibitions of the law because the coal-plant project does not need the approval of the city government.
He cited the July 13, 2007 memorandum of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that provides that no permits or clearances issued by national government agencies or local government units shall be required in getting an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) or certificate of non-coverage (CNC).
An ECC or CNC is required for projects that are perceived to bring about negative environmental impact. The granting of the certificates gives the go-signal for the projects.
He said he went to Taiwan to see if coal plants are clean and safe. "There was an offer, why not (go)?" said Treñas.
But the complainants said it was inappropriate for Treñas to accept the invitation.
"He (Treñas) is not an expert and we know that the most harmful substances emitted by coal plants cannot be seen by the naked eye. If he was given a tour and a briefing by coal plant employees to show that coal-plants are clean and safe, how can he refute that?" said Melvin Purzuelo, coordinator of the Green Forum in Western Visayas.
Gerochi said Treñas also pre-empted the recommendations of a Task Force created by the mayor to study the proposed project especially after the mayor announced after his Taiwan trip that the coal plants are safe.
But Treñas said the task force can submit recommendations that may contradict his personal views on the project.
Environmental groups and the Catholic Church are opposing the project, warning of health and pollution risks. They said the project should be shelved and replaced by projects tapping renewable sources of energy.
But GBPC Vice President Adrian Moncada has refuted the claims of environmental groups. He said the coal plants is safe will comply with environmental laws and regulations.
The proponents say the plants utilize the Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) which they claim limits emissions within internationally accepted levels and those set by the Clean Air Act.