DOH supports proposed coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City
The Department of Health (DOH) expressed its support to the proposed establishment of a coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City.
This was contained in a memorandum endorsed by Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, to Undersecretary for Policy and Standard Development Team for Service Delivery Mario Villaverde and forwarded to Center for Health Development 6 (CHD 6) regional director Lydia Depra-Ramos.
"The DOH supports the programs being undertaken by the government in pursuit of sustainable development. However, extra efforts to maintain balance between economic development, environmental, and health protection shall always be number one priority," the memorandum said.
The DOH's stand was read before participants during the briefing of the proposed project held at the office of Mayor Jerry P. Treñas last Friday by DOH – CHD 6 Medical Health Specialist Dr. Andres Dolar.
Dolar is a member of the task force that was created by the city government to study the proposed project.
"DOH does not pose opposition to the project as it believes that mitigating measures will be in place," he said.
The DOH, meanwhile, recommended that the city government and the CHD 6 be properly represented in the multipartite team that will be created to do "periodic monitoring of the plant during its construction, operation and commissioning phases of the project cycle." (PNA)