Public safety and public need
This is in response to Mr. Locario's piece regarding the construction of a coal fired power plant in Lapaz, Iloilo (Coal-fired power plant, needed to address power demand, Sept. 18, 2008).
Although as a consumer of electricity, I agree with his opinion that a power plant is necessary, I disagree with his statement regarding the reasons for the opposition thereto. I believe that his comments on the reasons for the opposition were unjustified and off tangent, calling them leftists, communists, and opportunists was uncalled for.
Hard it may be to understand, but the arguments of the oppositors have merit. There can be no argument that coal-fired power plants are harmful to the health of neighboring communities, anyone disputing that is delusional. Current technology may have mitigated such harmful effects on the environment, but there still remain significant damage in its operation.
I believe that there are better and safer ways to provide power to the island, but for the moment, such alternatives are out of our reach, both financially and technologically. Geothermal is not available, solar and wind are too expensive, and the nuclear alternative is not even considered an option.
There are times when public safety must give way to public need. I believe that is so in this case. We need power, never before in the history of man has our need for energy been greater, more urgent. Never before has our society been more dependent on energy. The greater good for the greater number.
—Marcelo Augusto A. Cosgayon (thru email)
Barking at the wrong tree
The people who are blaming the Dinagyang for the poor performance of several schools in the recently concluded NAT are barking at the wrong tree. Stock knowledge gathered from previous years of study up to the present is what is being measured in the said exam. Perhaps these people are just covering the inefficiency of some sectors to lift the quality of education.
—darius_dagnalan@yahoo.com