Iloilo business leaders endorse coal-fired power plant
Iloilo's business leaders yesterday came out with a statement supporting and endorsing the establishment of a coal-fired power plant to solve the power crisis in the city.
A copy of the statement obtained by The News Today said that there is an urgent need to solve the power crisis currently experienced by the city to propel its growth and development.
"We, the business sector of Iloilo, led by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF) and its member business associations representing more than 350 small, medium and large companies operating in Iloilo do hereby declare that (we strongly support and endorse the establishment of a coal-fired power plant that will generate an additional 164 MW of electricity for our community)," reads the opening statement of the business leaders.
Listed as signatories are Alfonso Uy, chairman of ILEDF; Rex Drilon II, president of ILEDF; Mr. Antonio Jon, chairman of Iloilo Business Club Inc., Dr. Roland Uy, president of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc.; Mr. Angel De Leon, Jr., president of Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Iloilo; Mr. Reynaldo Navarro, president of Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Panay Inc.; Ms. Fanny Uy, president of Iloilo Multi Sectoral Business Organization; Mr. Emil Diez, president of Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau, Valerie Maravilla, president of Ilonggo Producers Association Inc. and Mr. Francis Chung, president of Phil. Retailers Association of Iloilo.
The group said "Iloilo has suffered from inadequate, expensive, unreliable and poor quality of power supply" for many years.
"The power crisis had been the primary reason why investors are discouraged from investing in Iloilo. This has greatly affected the ability of the business sector to generate and grow employment opportunities here," they added.
"Employment remains to be the best antidote to poverty... Lack of reliable and affordable power prevents us from achieving this goal of eradicating poverty with employment," the group stressed.
The business leaders pointed that "the power crisis can be resolved with timely investments in additional capacities for appropriate, safe and affordable sources of energy."
They cited, however, that except for the proposal of Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) to establish a coal fired power plant in the city, "no other credible investors have stepped forward to provide this much additional capacity within a reasonable period and in the magnitudes being proposed."
The group also acknowledged that there are alternative sources of energy. "But where are their investors?" they asked.
To note, GBPC proposes to put up a 100 MW coal-fired power plant at the site of its existing power plant Panay Power Corporation in Brgy. Ingore, La Paz. GBPC would partner with Taiwan's Formosa Heavy Industries in the endeavor.
"As responsible members of the community, our leaders have studied the issues, read research materials, participated in dialogues and even went on field trips and observation tours here and abroad to ensure that the technology being proposed meets cost, safety and time specifications. We also submit that the project proponents are responsible corporate citizens who have established track records as triple- bottom line businessmen," the group said.