Task force sees no problem with having coal- fired power plant in city
Amid strong opposition from the Catholic church and environmental groups, the Task Force on Coal-Fired Power Plant has unanimously approved and recommended for the establishment of a coal-fired plant here to address the city's deficiency in power.
The task force, chaired by City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) chief Engr. Noel Hechanova and composed of representatives from various sectors, submitted their report to Mayor Jerry Treñas last week.
The task force, in their report, said the establishment of a coal-fired power plant in the city will "benefit" the people of Iloilo City.
"The members of the coal plant evaluation task force coming from the different sectors and professions, certify in conscience the safety of the project," said the task force.
The task force based their recommendation on the data provided by the project proponent Panay Power Corporation (PPC). PPC and its technical partner the Formosa Heavy Industries (FHI) of Taiwan plans to construct a 164 megawatt coal-fired power plant using a clean coal technology from leading American and Canadian Energy companies, Alston and Foster Wheeler.
During the conduct of the study, the task force not only visited coal-fired power plants in Mabalacat, Pampanga where the Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC), a subsidiary of PPC, operates a coal-fired power plant but also gathered inputs from the cities of Naga, Toledo and also in Cebu.
"The Clean Coal Technology is based on the sound and well-accepted engineering applications and practices. The Circulating Fluidized Bed Technology claim of drastically reducing the nitrogen oxide (Nox), sulfur dioxide (Sox) and particles emission by 80 % has been confirmed as true and correct by the Department of Energy by the materials gathered from the World Coal Institute and other reliable sources," the report said.
The task force noted that "there are no definitive diagnosis to attribute the 10 leading causes of morbidity in Toledo City and Naga City with the operation of the existing coal plant."
Among the top 10 causes of morbidity are cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Further, the task force said the different toxic substances of the proposed coal plant have been identified, understood and measured based on the available materials, investigative studies of similar projects and in collaboration with the Department of Energy, Department of Health and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office.
"The environmental risks have been identified and well-understood and the pathways of these substances have been identified from their different sources to the different receptors. The device, Electrostatic Precipitator is able to reduce particulates as much as 99 % has also been confirmed as true and correct by the Department of Energy," the report further stated.
"To address the environmental risks, mitigation measures and safety programs proposed by the proponent such as Continuous Monitoring System (CEMS) and bag filters are based on the sound industry practices and are sufficient enough to safeguard the environment and human health," the task force added.
The task force was created to conduct a study on the viability of a coal-fired power plant in the city with an aim to deal on the health and environment issues.
The other members of the task force are Jose Roni Peñalosa, chief of the City Planning Office; Dr. Urminico Baronda, chief of the City Health Office; Dr. Andres Dolar, medical health specialist II of the Department of Health and Eric Tabaldo, assistant regional director of the Land Transportation Office, Metro Iloilo Air Shed.
The other members of the task force are Engr. Samson Guillergan, chief Pollution Control Division, Environmental Management Bureau; Eng. Felix Ojario, professor of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas; Dr. Jonnifer Sinogaya, professor of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas; Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President Carlos Guarin of Lapaz and Rev. Fr. Espiridion Celis Jr, parish priest of the Espousal of Our Lady Parish (Mandurriao).
There were also four observers namely Bernabe Garnace, CENR Officer, Engr. Helen Sotomil, professor of the Western Institute of Technology; Dr. Evelyn Belleza, director of the Graduate Studies in UPV, ABC Iloilo City Proper President Bobby Divinagracia and former DOST regional director and of Taytay sa Kauswagan Zinnia Teruel.