WV govs' move surprises Treñas
City Mayor Jerry Treñas said, it is the responsibility of the city officials to decide on the future of the city especially with regard to its power needs and not the other government leaders. The other government leaders must respect inter-governmental courtesy, he said.
Treñas lamented the move of five Western Visayas governors in asking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to revoke the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) granted by the the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) for the establishment of a coal-fired power plant.
The proposed coal-fired power plant would be constructed inside the compound of Panay Power Corporation (PPC) in Barangay Ingore, Lapaz. A ground breaking ceremony was held last month after the environment department issued the ECC. In the petition, the governors cited health and environmental issues over the construction of the coal-fired power plant.
The mayor lamented that when he met the protesting governors Thursday last week in Manila they said nothing about the petition or their concerns over the construction of a coal-fired power plant. Prior to their meeting Thursday, the mayor also met with President Arroyo. "I am very disappointed," he said.
The five governors who petitioned the President to revoke the ECC are: Guimaras Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava; Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco Sr. ; Gov. Carlito Marquez of Aklan; Gov. Isidro Zayco of Negros Occidental and Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez.
Perez's action came as a surprise to Treñas after the latter learned that Perez also signed a memorandum of agreement with Korea Power Corp. (Kepco) in 2003 for the establishment of a coal-fired power plant.
"Iloilo City is unique. It has no available indigenous source of power such as hydro, geothermal and wind. It only relies on the bunker fuel which is much more expensive. There are several rounds of increase on the cost of bunker fuel," said Treñas.
"The construction of a 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant is believed to reduce the cost of power in the city. The consumers pay more than P13 per kilowatt hour. It is much more expensive when compared to the power rate in Bacolod City," said Treñas.
"Power is a precious commodity in the city with the entry of several businesses such as the Business Processes Outsourcing (BPO). There is a rapid growth in Iloilo City. The city must sustain its development and growth. The lack of power will affect the city's capability to sustain its development," explained Treñas.