PGMA has yet to receive petition of five governors
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has yet to receive the petition of the five governors in Western Visayas asking her to revoke the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) granted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) for the establishment of a 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant.
This was learned from Mayor Jerry Treñas who met with the President Wednesday.
Treñas said it was a short meeting where he raised his concerns before the President particularly on the lack of power in the city.
He said President Arroyo did not give any assurance considering the absence of a copy of the petition of the governors.
It will it send a chilling effect on the investors if the environment department decides to recall the ECC. It has a big impact on the plans of the investors to invest in the city and even the entire country. Treñas said it will leave a negative impact among the would be investors.
Initially, the GBPC plans to put up P18 billion worth of investment.
The investors will have a second thought in investing their money with the stand of the government in providing the required licenses and permits, said Treñas.
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.
The city's competitiveness will also be affected with the change of the policy in the government. The availability of power in the city is one of the aspects that makes Iloilo City competitive, said Treñas.
Meanwhile, Treñas said he has yet to reach the five governors that wants the ECC recalled. 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.