Treñas keeps silence on coal plant public hearing
City Mayor Jerry Treñas preferred not to give any statement on today's public hearing on the proposed installation of coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.
The mayor just said that the only thing he wants the people to understand is the city needs enough power supply for its future development.
Treñas said a task force composed of representatives from various sectors conducted a study on the proposal and they are still awaiting its recommendation.
He said the task force focused its study on the impacts to health and environment of the proposed coal plant.
The task force headed by City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) chief Engr. Noel Hechanova is composed of representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), academe, business organizations and non-government organization.
A public hearing on the coal fired power plant will be held 1 p.m. today at the La Paz gymnasium.
Different sectors in the society—those who are in favor and those who are not in favor—are expected to attend the public hearing. Church people are also expected to be present.
Global Power Business Corporation (GPBC) proposes to install a 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant to address the power needs of the city.
GPBC plans to put up the coal power plant at the present site of Panay Power Corporation (PPC) in Brgy. Ingore in La Paz district.
PPC is a diesel-fired power plant producing 72 megawatts of power which is being supplied to Iloilo City consumers.