GMA's '03 speech bares change of tune for Antique gov on coal-fired power plant issue
Perez
A coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City poses risks and dangers to the lives of the people with threats inherent to global warming.
The chosen site not only put the health and lives of city residents at risk but thousands of students, workers and employees from provinces of Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Capiz and Aklan.
It is also a menace with negative impact on water resources consumption, marine and land life, air pollution and climate change.
Or so, the region's five governors strongly insisted in a position paper made public and submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Backed by a personal letter signed by Antique Governor Salvacion Perez, said position paper supposedly embodied "deep concern and strong opposition" to the planned power-plant.
Particular objection was on the issuance of an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Perez in her letter for the President explained that while every opportunity for economic development must be grabbed, it should not be the case with the coal-fired power plant investment.
"…it is with urgency that we should also put a stop to the negative impact of that same development on our delicate environment. Otherwise we could inflict horrendous threat to the people whose plight we so hardly work to uplift," the lady governor wrote.
As such, she pleaded to the President to hear her pleas alongside the four other Western Visayas governors on, "...the clamor of our people to have a future free from the menace of environmental degradation."
The letter was dated October 7, 2008 while the position paper was signed in September 21, 2008.
"Flashback" to five years ago in 2003, Governor Perez was apparently singing a different tune though. In fact, she got a special mention in the President's speech delivered before farmers, irrigators and the trade and agri-business sector April 1, 2003.
President Arroyo was all pleased and grateful of Governor Perez for leading the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on a coal-fired power plant for her province.
Arroyo prior to the disclosure took note of the Energy Department's prediction of power shortage in Panay Island.
"So I am very pleased to let you know that this morning a Memorandum of Understanding was signed into, by and between the provincial government of Antique led by Sally Perez and KEPCO Philippines, our representatives from Korea Mr. Lee Gilbo, President and Chief Executive Officer of KEPCO Philippines Corporation with the presence of Korean Ambassador Son Sang Ha to construct and set up a 100-megawatt circulating, fluidized bed combustion power plant using the Semirara Coal of Caluya in Antique," President Arroyo then said.
Relatedly, the President said, "I also ask the local communities and government to assist these projects in obtaining the necessary permits and approvals so that they are not delayed."
Governor Perez was among those who applauded President Arroyo in said speech.